The release of the final Fit for the Future assessment methodology on Friday June 5 left just 15 working days for Councils to complete submissions that will be instrumental in determining their future existence, Local Government NSW (LGNSW) has said.
LGNSW President Keith Rhoades AFSM said the limited time allowed for Councils to ensure their submissions responded appropriately to the final methodology made ‘a mockery of fair process’.
Cr Rhoades said 15 days was simply insufficient for Councils to ensure their submissions reflected community wishes and met the methodology requirements.
“That includes a threshold benchmark of ‘scale and capacity’, which is still deeply problematic, according to the Government, scale and capacity can only be reached if Councils are merged.
“The majority of Councils represent residents and ratepayers who have said overwhelmingly they do not want to be amalgamated, so it’s a real catch-22 and they’re on a hiding to nothing.”
Cr Rhoades said the inadequate timeline set down by the Government was a joke, and put at risk the likelihood of achieving reform that would genuinely benefit residents and ratepayers.
“IPART is required to receive these critically important and complex submissions, make a judgement on each against complex criteria, and then advise the Government by 16 October whether or not individual Councils are ‘Fit for the Future’.
“With the Council submissions due on 30 June, IPART have, on average, less than one day per Council to make assessments.
“These are not insignificant documents we’re talking about, they will determine the future grassroots representation of communities in this State.
“Councils and the communities they represent deserve a voice in their own future, and they certainly deserve more than a single day’s flick through of a detailed and thorough submission.”
Cr Rhoades said it was becoming increasingly clear that Councils found not to meet the criteria set down by Government would be forced to amalgamate with neighbours, irrespective of the wishes of residents and ratepayers.
“The Minister stood in Parliament on May 15 and said the Government would not support a motion against forced Council amalgamations.
“So the Government’s agenda is pretty clear, and if the Minister’s comments in Parliament don’t spell it out sufficiently, the ridiculous timeline does.”
Cr Rhoades said even IPART Chair Dr Peter Boxall had publicly described the timeline set down by Government as ‘challenging’.
“We agree, and we’re finding it increasingly ‘challenging’ to maintain any confidence that the Government is committed to an evidence-based, considered and fair reform process.”
