welcome to south australia. welcome to our south african visitors 11 october 2004 adelaide, south...
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to South Australia
Welcome to our South African Visitors
11 October 2004
Adelaide, South Australia
Opening
Session 1: LG in SA
Session 2: The LGA Strucure
Session 3: IntergovernmentRelationships
Session 4: LGA project activities
Program
1: LG in SAAustralia is a “pluralist democracy”- i.e.
citizens can go to any Government for help and Governments can disagree
• Areas of discrete powers
• Areas of joint responsibility
• Financial transfers
• Relationships unclear
1: LG in SA
Structure:
• 68 Councils + ACDT + 5 Aboriginal Communities
• 68 = 15% area 97% of population
• 50 Country & 18 Metro Adelaide
1: LG in SA
1: LG in SA
Democratically elected body:
• 3 year terms;
• full adult franchise;
• secret postal ballot;
• proportional representation count & avge turnout 40%.
1: LG in SA
• Council Members only exercise power as a group
• Meetings open to public
• No overt party politics
• CEOs manage staff (~ 8000)
1: LG in SA
• Smallest: 1160 Pop; A$1.16m
• Largest: 150,000 Pop; A$80 m
1: LG in SA
Revenue:
1: LG in SA
Expenditure
1: LG in SAStormwater Drainage -
($1.116B)15%
STEDS - ($0.170B)2%
Gravel Roads - ($0.756B)10%
Other - ($0.075B)1%
Buildings - ($1.176B)16%
Parks - ($0.081B)1%
Footpaths/Bikeways - ($0.451B)6%
Bridges - ($0.153B)2%
Sealed Roads - ($3.552B)47%
Infrastructure Assets
LG Functions include:• Town Planning• Local Roads• Stormwater• Sport & Recreation• Waste Management• Libraries• Parks & Gardens• Food inspection / Env Health
1: LG in SA
Questions?
2: LGA
• ‘Voice’ of Local Government est. 1875
• Membership organisation
• All 68 Councils are members - Plus Pitjantjatjara, Nepabunna and OACDT
What?
2: LGA
•Representation - Voice of Local Government - to State & Federal Governments; - media etc
•Leadership - highlighting “best practice” to Councils - supporting networking
Why?
2: LGA
•Information - visits, circulars, newsletter, website
•Corporate schemes - bulk purchasing
Why?
2: LGA
•LG Act & Constitution•General Meeting & AGM•Policy Manual•Executive Committee
Structure
2: LGA
•Senior Executive Committee•Metropolitan LG Group•SAROC (country regions)•Secretariat
Structure
2: LGA
•Research•Policy Development•Vision/Strategies•Lobbying/Representation
Functions
2: LGA
• Information/Advocacy• Services• Project Management
Functions
2: LGA
•LGA Budget A$2.2 million - LGA Subscriptions A$1.4 m - Business income A$0.4m
•25 staff (incl. projects)
•14% LG outlays via LG House
•LG Research & Dev. Scheme
Capacity
2: LGA
•Information- web, paper, visits;
•Consult- surveys; forums; decisions at executive
•Represent- Minister’s Forum; Ministers; Officers; Parl’t; media
How?
2: LGA
•Guide- Manuals; Models; Training; Conferences •LG Research & Dev. Scheme
How?
2: LGA
Entities
• LG Finance Authority• LG Corporate Services• Superannuation Scheme• Public Liability Insurance
2: LGA
Entities
• Workers’ Compensation• General Insurance• Public Libraries Purchasing
2: LGAR & D Scheme• LG’s own research agenda• Tax Equivalent on LGFA• About A$800,000 p.a.• Principles, Purposes & Plan• Benefit Sector as whole• Strategic Policy work
2: LGA
National
• State LGAs federated• Australian Local Government
Association (ALGA)• Canberra office
2: LGA
National
• Member of COAG• Ministerial Councils• Member ILUA-AUSPAC• Mainly lobbying on funding
2: LGA
Questions?
3: Intergovernment
• Civilised but unclear• Funding important with
Commonwealth• State Parliaments manage
legal framework• Prime working relationships
with State Governments
3: Intergovernment
• Councils/State agencies – day to day relationship
• History – ad hoc• Growing role of LGA
3: Intergovernment
• State/Local Relations Agreement
• Local Government Forum• LGA & Ministers
3: Intergovernment
LGA Role
• Listening to Councils• Liaising with State agencies• Deal with “Government of the day”• Unless blocked
3: Intergovernment
LGA Role
• Representations to Ministers• Lobby Parliament• Public Campaign
3: Intergovernment
S/L R Agreement
• Signed Premier & President• Not legally binding• Points to good practice• Role for LG Forum• Annual list of priorities
3: Intergovernment
S/L R Agreement
Aims to:“improve consultation arrangements, government communication practices and to build a closer, more productive and collaborative working relationship between State and Local Government.”
3: Intergovernment
S/L R Agreement
• Co-ordination objectives• Shared understandings • Agreed principles• Communication and consultation expectations
3: Intergovernment
S/L R Agreement
• Improved financial relations Objectives, and • Shared strategic directions
3: Intergovernment
Annual Priorities
• Alignment of strategic plans• Commonwealth relationships• Governance• Economic development
3: Intergovernment
Annual Priorities
• Stormwater and STEDS• Waste management• Natural resources management• Planning and development• Housing
3: Intergovernment
Annual Priorities
• Surplus Land• Improved financial information• Consultation guidelines on legislation
3: Intergovernment
LG Forum
• 5 Ministers & others• 5 LGA Executive Members• 3 Senior State Officers• 3 Senior Local Government Officers• 2 Union representatives
3: IntergovernmentLG Forum
• Agenda items agreed by OLG and LGA• Papers jointly prepared• Advice to Premier & Cabinet and LGA Executive• Focus on Priorities• Add value – not manage all
3: Intergovernment
Questions?
4: Activities
Selected issues
Comparative Performance Measurement
4: Activities
Selected issues
Annual Rating Strategy
4: Activities
Selected issues
Asset Management
4: Activities
Selected issues
Bulk Electricity
4: Activities
Selected issues
Online Services
4: Activities
Selected issues
Communication
4: Activities
Questions?