Podcasts about local government act

Councils are taking millions of dollars of unpaid rates through people's mortgages. A little-known clause of the Local Government Act gives councils the power to force banks or finance companies to cover unpaid rates. It's used as a last resort after exhausting all other avenues to getting rates paid. Taxpayers' Union Local Government Spokesperson, Sam Warren, says it wouldn't be needed as much if there was more sensible spending. "I want to see a lot more done by councils to rein in that spending and get rates down as low as possible so this doesn't happen." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lindsay McKenzie is still busy at work. You will have forgotten the name because like so much news these days, it's hot stuff until it isn't. Lindsay is the bloke that was appointed to watch over Wellington Council because of their dysfunction. He has just written his second report. His first report seemed sort of sympathetic. Yes, they were a mess, but they were decent people sort of thing. His second report seems to suggest not a lot is getting better. Some councillors have continued their criticism of each other and officers are suspected of leaking information, writes Lindsay. He also says the community is at its wits end over infrastructure although most of that comes from the same complainers. He has also noted since his first report there have been several incidences that have given rise to concerns about the organisations ability to function. Now, the question I have is, given the place is still to be found wanting, what next? You might remember Minister Simeon Brown put this bloke in as the least intrusive option, as opposed to a full commissioner or set of commissioners. So far, so bad. So, is the government going to do anything? Or is poor old Lindsay set to write reports for the rest of his life? In the report though is a nugget of gold. He recommends a review of the Local Government Act in relation to the qualification for and capability to hold office. Yes, yes, and yes please. Let's actually treat these jobs as jobs as opposed to dabbles, fascinations or fiefdoms. Let's actually require people to have some skills. The idea you can just put your name forward for a job of such responsibility is absurd beyond belief and when any idiot can have a crack, guess what you get? Wellington is what you get. Let's get a bit professional, let's put a bit of heft behind the job, and let's get some talent in the room. I have no doubt this is going nowhere, because why would you fix anything when you can ignore it? But if that was run with, Lindsay would deserve, if not a knighthood, certainly keys to a vastly better run city. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local councils will come under greater scrutiny next year as the Government cracks down on what it says are nice-to-haves. Clutha mayor Bryan Cadogan, Gisborne mayor Rhette Stoltz, and Lower Hutt mayor Campbell Barry spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Government has announced changes to the Local Government Act to remove the four wellbeings - social, economic, environmental and cultural - and refocus councils on basics like roads and pipes. Political Editor Jo Moir spoke to Corin Dann.

A mayor doubts removing wellbeing measures from the Local Government Act will change much. The Government's removing references to social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being in a push to get councils to focus on core services. Council performance will be benchmarked and a yearly report published. Local Government New Zealand Vice President Campbell Barry told Heather du Plessis Allan the four wellbeing pillars have come and gone two or three times in 14 years. He says exercises like benchmarking and looking at how they can be more transparent makes more sense, and will make a tangible difference. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Local Government Act is being scrubbed of requirements to consider social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being. The Government says its reforms will refocus councils on basics - like fixing pipes, filling potholes, and delivering core services. It will also benchmark council performance and modernise rules to drive cost savings. Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says this'll stop councils spending lots of money on things they argue fit within the four well-being objectives. "They won't be able to use that excuse when they go out to consult on their annual plans or their long-term plans as to why they want to spend money on those activities." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has announced a suite of reforms set to hold councils to account. The Local Government Act is being stripped of well-being requirements - as part of Cabinet efforts to prioritise the basics. It will also benchmark performance with a yearly report on financial and delivery outcomes. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the Government is helping put council decisions back into the hands of ratepayers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The police are facing some pushback after they took an organised cultural trip to China. Was this a bad move? The Government has announced some changes to the Local Government Act to encourage them to get back to basics and cut down on pet projects and rate rises. Do we agree with these changes? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A suite of reforms are on the way to hold local councils to account. The Local Government Act's being stripped of requirements to consider social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being as part of Cabinet's efforts to prioritise the basics. It will also benchmark performance with a yearly report on financial and delivery outcomes. Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says it will compare different councils rates, debt, spending, budgets and the state of their roads. Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Glyn Lewers says the move was well signalled. "The information is there they're just going to publish it in a different format".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lindsay McKenzie has been appointed as Wellington City Council's Crown observer. Local Government Minister Simeon Brown said McKenzie has significant governance and senior leadership experience. McKenzie's term will last until July next year. Wellington City Council's Crown observer will be on the job tomorrow after the Government revealed the man tasked with sorting out “the shambles”. Lindsay McKenzie, the former chief executive of Tasman District Council and Gisborne District Council, has agreed to take on the role. Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau told Newstalk ZB's Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills there had been better collaboration at the council in the past couple of weeks. ”When the Minister was contemplating government intervention, I think that kind of gave everyone a bit of a fright. The last thing the council wanted was a commissioner”, she said. Whanau said she wasn't surprised when the Government decided to appoint a Crown observer. ”I wouldn't say relief, just kind of like acceptance that this was happening.” When asked whether she'd lost control of her council, Whanau said no. ”This robustness and perception of dysfunction has been building for years.” Whanau believed they could work together but said “unified” was probably no longer the right word to use. Asked what she would do differently, Whanau said anything she did differently would result in the same outcome. ”Everything that I have done is by the book, I've done everything with the best interests of Wellingtonians at heart. “What we have are some people who relitigate decisions, play politics, play political theatre because that is the nature of Wellington City Council. I stick by my decisions.” Lindsay McKenzie is the former CEO of Tasman District Council. Whanau believed the council had not reached the threshold for a Crown observer but she accepted that was the Government's decision. She said the council would never be perfect. ”That's due to the personalities that are in the room. When you disagree so fundamentally on things like values, policies or so forth, it's going to cause tensions, it's going to be robust. “We've never going to be best friends and that's probably something I was naive about when I was first mayor.” Whanau spoke to Simeon Brown last night who told her the observer was there to help the council. She has exchanged numbers with McKenzie this morning and will set up a meeting with him as soon as possible. Whanau said she expected McKenzie to observe and provide guidance to ensure the council was meeting its legislative requirements. She did not expect him to attend airport board meetings with her, but he will attend council meetings, workshops and meet with elected members one-on-one. She didn't think having an observer was going to be as dramatic as people thought. ”Because there's an observer there, we'll have councillors possibly watch themselves.” Whanau said observing the capital city could be quite different from McKenzie's experience at provincial councils. Asked whether councillors had thrown her under the bus, Whanau said; “You'd have to ask them”. Whanau said she had not been treated unfairly by her own council and said that it was just political theatre. Not every councillor thought she was a great leader but she had a great relationship with the majority of her peers, Whanau said. She didn't think Wellingtonians were embarrassed by having a Crown observer, and she did not feel she had been picked on by the Government because she was aligned with the Green Party. Whanau said between $400 million and $600m in capital spending could be cut after the failed airport sale. Asked whether there would be redundancies or a hiring freeze internally at the council to save money, Whanau said cutting capital spending would have a flow-on on effect in operating spending but she “couldn't say definitively”. Whanau said the Golden Mile project was sacred to her because she campaigned on it strongly. ”There's a lot of negative talk around this project but at the end of the day it's the transformational stuff that makes our city liveable, walkable, all that good stuff.” McKenzie has significant governance and senior leadership experience in local government, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown said in a statement yesterday. “When Invercargill City Council was facing governance issues, Mr McKenzie was called upon as an external appointee to support its governance performance improvement programme.” “He also has strong financial acumen, which is reflected in his current appointment as an Independent Member of the Nelson City Council audit, risk and finance cCommittee.” Brown revealed he had sought advice on possible Government intervention after the council stopped the controversial sale of its 34% share in the airport – upending the Long Term Plan (LTP). The council now has to amend the LTP and possibly cut hundreds of millions of dollars in capital spending to create additional debt headroom to respond to the insurance risks the airport sale was designed to solve. Brown said the decision to appoint a Crown observer was not one that he took lightly. “However, my assessment is that the financial and behavioural challenges facing the council represent a significant problem as set out in Part 10 of the Local Government Act 2002.” Speaking to Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking this morning, Brown said McKenzie will sort through the “dysfunction between personalities” at Wellington City Council and will help the mayor and councillors to “get on”. He said McKenzie would provide external advice and assist with a fresh pair of eyes, though it's up to the council whether it follows the Crown observer's guidance. ”[He is] someone else who … has not been part of all the drama over the last little while and can provide an extra set of advice.” Nelson mayor Nick Smith said McKenzie's appointment is something the region should be proud of, given his experience as both CEO of Tasman District Council and interim chief executive at Nelson City Council. In a Facebook post, Smith said “the problems at Wellington City Council will test Lindsay's skills with a difficult combination of infrastructure, financial and governance woes”. “We wish him, Mayor Tory Whanau and Wellington's councillors the very best as they attempt to stabilise the council and sort the Capital's major challenges.” McKenzie's term will last until the end of July 2025 or earlier if appropriate. “Mr McKenzie will provide the support and advice necessary to assist the council as it delivers an amended Long-Term Plan that works for the city, its ratepayers, and communities”, Brown said. Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government, transport, and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Close to 60 Cortes Island residents turned out for the Zoning Bylaw Review Meeting in Manson's Hall on Thursday, September 12th. The following article consists of audio clips of the main speakers, taken at the meeting, and an interview with Regional Director Mark Vonesch the following morning.   Mark Vonesch: "Leading up to it, I think there was a little bit of tension in the air. ‘What's going to happen?' ‘How are we going to change our zoning in a way that's good for Cortes and  protecting what we have here, but also making room for more housing  and addressing the housing challenges that we face?'”   “I think the key takeaway is this is a process that we're still in the middle of. There's still lots of opportunity for input. We've had four meetings leading up to this. Last night's meeting was about presenting the summary of the findings from the previous meetings, and giving us a sense of what the Zoning Bylaw draft is going to look like.” “The biggest shift, based on the input from the community, is that people are looking to increase density on rural residential lots."  Annie Girdler, a planner with the Strathcona Regional District (SRD), explained, "We've also added the potential for an additional dwelling unit on lots greater than one hectare. Previously a residential property was permitted a single dwelling and one secondary suite or an additional dwelling unit.  The proposed change is that this property would now be allowed to have a secondary suite AND an additional dwelling unit." Another proposal is to increase in the maximum size of additional dwellings from about 650 to about 840 square feet. Meredith Starkey, Manager of Planning and Parks for the SRD, stated, "The secondary units were previously called ‘Granny Flats' in some places because it's intended for your parents, in-laws or a renter or a couple etc, but our world is changing. There may be more families who want to live in a secondary dwelling. So, that's certainly a possibility."      Annie Girdler: "We've also added a new provision on clustered housing and how to accomplish that. We've also removed regulations that are not in the SRD's jurisdiction to enforce. Lastly, we've consolidated or removed zones that were either not in use or they were duplicate zones." "The current Zoning Bylaw is from 2002,  and as a legislated document, there's several requirements under the Local Government Act that a Zoning Bylaw has to meet.  Many of those requirements are new since 2002. So a review is necessary to ensure that our bylaw meets provincial requirements and is legal." "The goal is to bring the Zoning Bylaw into better alignment with your Official Community Plan (OCP). We'll also be removing or correcting outdated regulations, updating some of the terms with new language that's consistent, and also addressing some of the modern challenges, which we've heard a lot about." ”Our goal for this phase of the project is to hear your feedback as a community. It'll give us a chance to either confirm that the provisions look how they should, or revise as necessary if we were way off. This revision process will be ongoing, and then we'll move on to the regular bylaw referrals process which will involve consultation with other government agencies, other levels of government, and First Nations.  Once that phase is  complete, we can move on to the bylaw adoption process. At that time we will have a formal public hearing and that will be the last opportunity to provide public input on a draft bylaw."

In a shock announcement first-time Ipswich councillor Dave Cullen has resigned citing on-going health problems. Dave Cullen joins this episode of Ipswich Today to discuss what's behind his decision. Ipswich City Council CEO Sonia Cooper issued a statement which confirmed that under Section 166 of the Local Government Act 2009, there are two options to fill the vacancy Cr Cullen's resignation creates. “If it is within the first 12 months of an election, councillors must decide by resolution to either hold a by-election, or have the Electoral Commission of Queensland offer the position to the runner-up of the 2024 Division 4 election ballot," she said. Also on the show Blair MP Shayne Neumann supports the rainbow flag in parliament.Published: 29 August 2024.Theme music: www.purple-planet.comImage: Dave Cullen (supplied)Ipswich Festivals: https://www.ipswichfestivals.com.au/Ipswich City Council: www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/Council meeting agendas and minutes: bit.ly/2JlrVKYCouncil meetings on YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/IpswichCityCouncilTVIpswich Planning Scheme: https://bit.ly/3g4Jwb7Shape Your Ipswich: www.shapeyouripswich.com.au/Ipswich Civic Centre: www.ipswichciviccentre.com.au/Ipswich Art Gallery: www.ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au/Ipswich Community Gallery: https://ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au/community/ipswich-community-galleryDiscover Ipswich: www.discoveripswich.com.au/Workshops Rail Museum: https://www.museum.qld.gov.au/rail-workshopsIpswich Libraries: www.ipswichlibraries.com.au/Studio 188: www.studio188.com.au/Nicholas Street Precinct: www.nicholasst.com.au/Picture Ipswich: www.pictureipswich.com.au/Local Ipswich News: https://localipswichnews.com.au/Inside Ipswich: https://ipswichtoday.com.au/inside-ipswich/Lost Ipswich Facebook: https://bit.ly/3pLLBwNc Ipswich Today is supported by listeners like you. Help keep it online with a small donation.Visit https://ipswichtoday.com.au/donate/Advertise on Ipswich Today https://ipswichtoday.com.au/advertising/Ipswich Today recommended listening: Twenty Thousand Hertz - stories behind the world's most recognisable and interesting sounds https://www.20k.org/ 

End of Term Report Sections: Local Government Act Section 428 Part (2).  Start at the Tumultuous Beginning.  Rebuilding Community Trust.  Building Relationships.  Trust Allows for More Innovation.  Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.  Events.  Infrastructure.  Drought Resilience.  Housing Solutions.  Additional Items of Significance.  The Numbers.  Other Highlights.  Limerick of the Week. 

“L” is for Local Government Act (1975). The Local Government Act of 1975, otherwise known as the Home Rule Act of 1975, was passed by the South Carolina General Assembly to implement the revised Article VIII of the state constitution adopted in 1973 and dealing with local government.

A Clarecastle councillor insists there's "no apology to be given" for comments he made in relation to fellow councillors' alleged conflicts of interest. It follows a discussion at yesterday's meeting of Ennis representatives, which centred on funding given by councillors to community and voluntary organisations. A seemingly trivial matter snowballed into a war of words between councillors at this week's Ennis Municipal District meeting, after Councillor Tom O'Callaghan suggested several members present should have withdrawn from a previous meeting due to undeclared conflicts of interest. The comments were in relation to General Municipal Allocation funding which some councillors had given to organisations in which they are personally involved. Each of the seven councillors in the Ennis area has this year been granted €49,000 in GMA funding which can be given to local charities, sports clubs, festivals or other organisations of their choosing. Since 2014, almost €2.5 million has been doled out by Ennis's elected representatives. As per SIPO guidelines, all councillors must disclose all potential conflicts of interest and must withdraw from a meeting concerning the interest if it benefits them financially or otherwise. Former Mayor of Ennis Ann Norton, who manages the Clare Crusaders Children's Clinic in a voluntary capacity and has given GMA funding to the organisation in the past, took particular offence to the comments and demanded an apology from Councillor O'Callaghan. The Barefield Independent councillor says she "can't understand" why Councillor O'Callaghan felt the need to make the comments. Ennis Municipal District Senior Engineer Sean Lenihan confirmed at the meeting that Councillor Norton doesn't have an undeclared conflict of interest as she doesn't benefit financially from her role at Clare Crusaders. She received the support of Ennis Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard who claimed that by Councillor O'Callaghan's logic, all local representatives have conflicts of interest due to their active roles in their communities. Councillor Howard says she feels that she and Councillor Norton have been unfairly "targetted" by their Clarecastle-based colleague. All local representatives nationwide are required to comply with the Code of Conduct for Councillors under the Local Government Act 2001. Councillor Tom O'Callaghan says his only goal in raising the issue of conflicts of interest was to ensure all councillors are in compliance with the law.

Sandy Beach Sand Movements Being Discussed with NSW Fisheries.  Why Is Dubbo Letting Surrounding Areas Snare the Big Football and Cricket Matches?  Wellington Residents and Dubbo Residents Are Still Paying Different Amounts for Water and Sewer Seven Years after the Amalgamation. Is It Time to Fix This?  News from the Latest Developers' Forum.  The Macquarie River Master Plan Will Be Considered at the Council Meeting This Week.  A Report Has Been Completed That Analyses Short-Term Worker Accommodation Requirements.  World's First DNA Database to Combat Littering – or Is It Just a Joke?  Council Has Made a Final Decision on Supporting the Macquarie Conservatorium of Music.  Controversy Surrounding the Macquarie Lions Park Amenities Block Being Demolished.  Ten Years for the CATO Vision to Be Realised.  Official Opening of the Archibald Finalists Exhibition at the WPCC.  Dubbo to Host NSW Touch Junior State Cup (Northern Conference) for the Next Three Years.  Latest Mayoral Memo Article Focuses on Section 226 of the Local Government Act.  3D Printing Becomes a Spectator Sport in Dubbo.  Parkinson's Law of Triviality Pops up in Discussions This Week.  New Council Chamber Officially Opened.  International Aerial Firefighting Conference Held in Dubbo.  Expansion Announced for the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.  Job Description for Councillors and Mayors.  Bowls NSW Met with Dubbo Clubs to Start Planning the State Championships for 2024.  Details of All Current and Planned Renewable Projects in the Region.  Mayoral Developers' Forum.  Official Opening of the 3D Printed Amenities Block.  Rescission of Land Swap Deal with the Dubbo RSL Memorial Club.  Unique Community Leaders' Meeting Well Attended.  Launch of the New Dubbo Visitor Guide.  Renewable Energy Awareness and Career Training (REACT) Centre.  Another Successful New Resident Evening Was Held This Week.  Is It True That the Mayor Is Trying to Improve His parkrun Times with 510m of New Concrete Pathway?  Are the 3D Printed Toilets in Danger of Being Deemed Structurally Unsound?  REACT Centre (Renewable Energy Awareness and Career Training Centre) Business Case Is Garnering Significant Interest from Various Stakeholders.  Official Opening of the RFS Aviation Centre of Excellence.  New Exhibits at the Old Dubbo Gaol.  Questions Asked about the 3D Printed Toilets at Macquarie Lions Park West. 

Section 28 was an amendment to the Local Government Act of 1988, which prohibited local authorities from intentionally 'promoting homosexuality', or promoting the 'acceptibility of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship'. This legislation came into place in 1988, and planted fear into our educational spaces. For years, Section 28 created a culture of silence around LGBT+ identities in our schools, and for many LGBT+ people, this silence became shame. Section 28 was in place for 15 years, and had an immeasurable impact on generations of LGBT+ young people, as well as limiting the education around LGBT+ identities for all young people. November 18th 2023 marks 20 years since Section 28 was fully repealed. This Pride & Progress special event explores what Section 28 looked like in our past, its legacy in our present, and how we can learn from it to create a more inclusive future. Our incredible speakers: · Professor Emeritus Sue Sanders, Chair of Schools Out UK, and co-founder of LGBT+ History Month UK (X @suesanders03). · Professor Paul Baker, author of 'OUTRAGEOUS!: The Story of Section 28 and Britian's Battle for LGBT Education' (X @_paulbaker_). · Professor Catherine Lee, author of 'Pretended: Schools and Section 28' (including her story, which helped inform the film 'Blue Jean') (X @DrCatherineLee).

The leadership structure at the Christchurch City Council is falling apart. And it had mayor Phil Mauger in a real tizz at the start of yesterday's council meeting. This was when he announced that they had to kick people out and go into closed meeting straight away because there was something urgent they needed to discuss about chief executive Dawn Baxendale. I've sat through a lot of council meetings in my time and I have never seen anything like that happen. Normally, this sort of thing happens at the end of the open meeting. So they do all the stuff that isn't confidential or commercially-sensitive first, and then they get people to leave so they can have their private convos. But yesterday was different. It was urgent, apparently, and it had to be done right at the start. So council staff and members of the public who had turned up had to stand around outside for nearly two hours while the councillors discussed this urgent, confidential stuff about the chief executive. Here's a quote from what Phil Mauger said about why they had to go into closed meeting straight away: “The reason this report cannot wait, is because there's an ongoing statutory process already under way and we need to resolve the next steps.” And he said they had to do it there and then because there's only five weeks until Christmas and only two further council meetings between now and then. The key words, though, in the little bit that Phil gave away before the meeting was closed to the public, were “statutory process”. Phil said there was a statutory process already underway. Of course, there were enquiries left, right and centre as to what this statutory process was that the mayor was referring to. One report I've seen says the council said it was a direct quote from the Local Government Act which relates to the terms of Dawn Baxendale's employment.I should say too that one of the few people allowed to stay in the room for the closed meeting was Susan Rowe, who is a partner in the law firm Buddle Findlay. She leads the firm's employment and health and safety team in Christchurch. So, as you can imagine, we've all been on the phones since then texting councillors. And not one of them has been prepared to say anything. It's a really closed shop. Even one in particular who I thought might say something was a no-go. So I think we can assume that what was discussed in that closed council meeting yesterday is quite significant. The word I've heard is that more will become apparent next week. But what we do know is the chief executive is under some sort of cloud. The head of the council's water division and the general manager of infrastructure have gone. The chief financial officer is on sick leave and the head of HR is on leave - having only been in the role a few months. What further evidence do you need that the leadership at the Christchurch City Council is crumbling?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dubbo to Host NSW Touch Junior State Cup (Northern Conference) for the Next Three Years.  Councillors Make a Decision on the Management of the Three Swimming Pools in the Dubbo LGA.  Update on the Progress of the New Dubbo Bridge.  Latest News on the Wiradjuri Cultural Tourism Project.  State Pennant Bowls Finals Being Held in Dubbo.  Dubbo College South Campus Delivers a Problem Solving Presentation.  Dubbo Greyhound Racing Club Host the Mayor's Cup.  Archival Photos Selected for Display in the New Council Chambers.  Join Councillors in Donating Blood.  Latest Mayoral Memo Article Focuses on Section 226 of the Local Government Act.  Join in With Dubbo parkrun on 8 July for Their 8th Anniversary Celebration.  Limerick of the Week. 

The community suffered significant storm damage on Thursday night. What is Council doing to help the clean up?  Under Section 226 (d) of the Local Government Act, a Mayor has rarely used powers. Why were these powers exercised recently?  Would you like to donate a commemorative Park Bench? Council needs a policy for that!  Backyard sheds are becoming larger all the time. A Development Control Plan is required.  Minimum lot sizes are going down in various developments in Dubbo. How small is too small?  Despite the fact that it is almost seven years after the amalgamation, Wellington residents and Dubbo residents are still paying different amounts for water and sewer. Is it time to fix this?  An update on the progress of the Fluoride Dosing System for the Dubbo Water Treatment Plant.  What is the plan for the Keswick Estate fence line along the Mitchell Highway?  Road closure updates for the NSW Touch Football Junior State Cup coming up on 24 – 26 February.  Dubbo was recently involved in meetings in Canberra. Was anything achieved?  Limerick of the Week. 

This week on TGU, Chris Eddy speaks with Tony Raunic  and Julie Reid on all things Local Government. Among the highlights they discuss are:A poll that claims most Victorians want to see local councils abolished. Rate caps jump to 3.5% to account for higher inflation. Countbacks for Yarra City Council, City of Stonnington and Colac Otway Shire The review of councils' compliance with the Local Government Act 2020. This episode of TGU was brought to you by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers. Support the showTo learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here. If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to vlga@vlga.org.au or call us on 03 9349 7999

This week on Legally Speaking with Michael Mulligan:British Columbia has had inadequate legal aid funding for family and poverty law cases for many years.In 1992 the NDP government imposed a special tax on legal services to fund legal aid. Anyone who hires a lawyer pays this special 7% tax that applies to no other professional services. In 2002 the Liberal government of the day cut legal aid funding by 40% but kept the tax in place. The result was dramatic cuts to family and poverty law services and legal aid clinics across the province being closed. The government did, however, keep the special tax in place. This has disproportionately impacted women and indigenous people who relied more heavily on the services that were eliminated.By 2017 the special tax on legal services was raising more than $210 million per year. By 2022 only $108.6 million of the funds collected by the special tax was being provided to Legal Aid BC. Rather than stopping the diversion of funds raised by the special tax on legal services, the government has proposed having paralegals, rather than lawyers, assist with family law and other matters for the poor. This has been resisted by the Law Society, which is the self-government body that regulates lawyers.One of the core obligations of the Law Society is to ensure that the public is protected by ensuring people providing legal services are properly qualified. Having unsupervised paralegals providing family law services is a concern because family law can be very complicated, and mistakes can impact important things such as child custody, spousal and child support. In an attempt to force the use of paralegals, the provincial government has issued an Intentions Paper which proposes giving the government more control over the Law Society by decreasing the number of elected Benchers and increasing the number of Benchers appointed by the government.Law Society Benchers are similar to a board of directors.  This proposal is of significant concern because the legal profession needs to be independent of the government. After all, lawyers often oppose the government.Until November 18, 2022, an online survey is open concerning the government's proposals. Also, on the show, the Supreme Court of Canada has determined that judges are permitted to impose harsher sentences than what is being requested by the Crown; however, they are required to advise the parties they plan to do this and permit the opportunity for further submissions. The SCC distinguished cases where there was a disagreement on when the sentence should be from cases where there is a joint submission. For joint submissions, a judge must do what is requested unless it is so inappropriate that it would bring the administration of justice into disrepute.  Finally, a judicial recount from the municipal in Port Moody is discussed. The initial machine vote count resulted in a two-vote difference between the two candidates. Feeding some of the ballots through the vote-counting machine resulted in a slightly different result. A further machine recount identified six ballots the courting machine was having trouble reading. When these ballots were looked at, the intention of the voters was clear. The result of counting the votes property was a tie. Pursuant to the Local Government Act, the tie was resolved by a random draw. The candidate who was initially two votes behind won the random draw and became the council member. Follow this link for a transcript of the show and links to the cases discussed.  

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Both the Campbell River Mirror and National Observer reported how the tiny Surge Narrows Community Association (SNCA) purchased 20 acres on Read Island in 2019. “We just couldn't bear to see yet another clearcut,” said Read Island resident Lannie Keller. “It was a beautiful piece of treed land along the main road where people travel to get mail, to the school or the dock.” A Strathcona Regional District (SRD) staff report states, “A public walking trail passes through a variety of unique ecosystems on the property, including mature/old growth forest.” This is the third year that the SRD has waived the property taxes for Lot 302. Rosie Steeves, one of SNCA's Directors, described the 2019 purchase as a game changer, illustrating how a handful of determined residents can save their environment. Some people hope to emulate this on Cortes Island, purchasing the 2,681 acres owned by Mosaic Forest Management. The forestry giant had intended to start logging operations this month, but recently posted notice in the Tideline that they will defer operations until the beginning of 2023. In his post, Land Use Forester Colin Koszman cited, “Several factors, including contractor availability, ongoing assessments and planning work, and continuing discussions with the community and our partners.” Cortes Island residents have a respite of at least three months. How much money would it take for Mosaic to part with its extensive Cortes holdings? Is there enough time to raise it?  This is the second time SNCA has purchased property on Read Island, but it took two or three years to raise the $78,000 for Lot 309 in 1992. Ralph and Lannie Kellar offered to put up $50,000 and guarantee the full $150,000 purchase price for Lot 302. There was no need. SNCA raised the funds in four months. The Kellars are among the 130 residents of Read, Maurelle, Rendezvous, and Sonora Island residents who belong to the charity. Lot 302 is now a green corridor, stretching from the Surge Narrows dock to the island's Fish and Forest Reserve. The SRD Board cited Section 391(4)(a) of the Local Government Act when it waived the taxes: “The following property that is in an electoral area may be exempted under subsection(a) land or improvements, or both, owned or held by, or held in trust by the owner for, an athletic or service organization and used principally for public athletic or recreation purposes” Lot 302 is meant to be as public park in perpetually. There was no discussion at the September 21 SRD Board Meeting. It took a little more than a minute for the SRD Board to waive the need for three readings, and the taxes for 2023.

It seems doesn't it that the Government, at the moment, is hellbent on forcing change on us in so many parts of our lives. Yesterday, it was the housing intensification changes - which the Christchurch City Council snubbed its nose at. There's another one, though, that I suspect the Christchurch council - in fact, all councils around the country - might be quite excited about. The Government's “Reshaping Streets” policy will make changes to land transport rules and the Local Government Act, to allow councils to change street lay-outs and street uses for up to two years without consulting anyone first. The Government's saying the two years would be a “pilot” or a “trial” and then the councils could consult us on what we thought of it after that. It would completely turn things on their head and any council could decide it wants to make a change to the lay-out of a road or change the way a road is used, give us just two weeks' notice, keep the changes in place for two years, and then ask us what we think of it. As one commentator has been saying, it would mean those opposed to something would run out of steam after two years and the rest of us would probably just accept it and not bother with the drawn-out consultation process. Now one of the things these proposed changes would do, is allow councils to ban parents from driving to the school gate to pick-up and drop-off their kids. And they'd do this by closing streets to private vehicles during drop-off and pick-up times. Can you imagine that? And if parents started driving down side streets to get to the school, councils could extend the ban to those side streets as well. And that's just one example of how this policy would work. But, unlike the housing intensification business, it's quite likely that our local councils will love this one because councils - rightly or wrongly - are perceived as being anti-car, because they seem to love chewing up roads to build cycleways and they love to tell us that we should be taking the bus and riding a bike. The name of this government policy - Reshaping Streets - says it all, doesn't it? And councils love re-shaping streets. So maybe they won't be so quick to push back on it. Another thing this proposed policy would do is it would let councils remove car parks for two years - again with just two weeks' notice - and it'd be two years before they had to ask us what we thought of it. Just yesterday afternoon I went into town to do something but I just about gave up when it became so difficult finding somewhere to park - all because the council thinks we shouldn't be driving into town, and we should be riding our bikes or taking the bus. So there are nowhere near as many parking spaces in town as there used to be. And that's why I think councils everywhere are going to love this “Reshaping Streets” proposal the Government is pushing. Because if it goes through, they'll be able to take away even more car parks (with just two weeks' notice) and make us wait two years before we get to have a say on it. They'll be able to close the roads around schools during drop-off and pick-up time, with just two weeks' notice, and make us wait two years before asking what we think of it. In my view, calling these things “pilots” is nothing short of shifty. And, as far as I'm concerned, it will be seen by most people as ideology-gone-mad.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister of Transport is proposing to amend land transport rules and the Local Government Act so councils can more easily transform streets to support public transport and more active forms of travel. The legislative changes under the Reshaping Streets programme will allow local councils to pilot changes to street layouts for up to two years as a form of consultation. It's hoped that it will accelerate projects such as creating bike lanes, pedestrian zones, and better transport infrastructure, as well as reducing speed limits and restricting traffic. It's part of a wider initiative to meet emissions reduction targets, including reducing car trips by 20 percent by 2035. Kathryn speaks to Minister of Transport Michael Wood.

Transport Minister Michael Wood plans to give councils the power to ban cars on roads at certain times and remove kerbside parking in favour of cycleways and bus lanes - without prior consultation. Wood also wants councils to restrict traffic outside schools to encourage parents and children to walk and cycle - improving exercise safety. But the minister has assured parents who drive their children to school that they have nothing to worry about and will still be able to drop them off nearby. The proposals come from the "Reshaping Streets" report, devised to help councils and Auckland Transport (AT) quickly make widespread changes to streets to support public transport, cycling, walking and people-friendly spaces. Transport Minister Michael Wood. Photo / Alex Burton Wood said the changes will also help meet the country's climate change emission reduction targets and make roads safer for all users. National Party transport spokesman Simeon Brown described "Reshaping Streets" as a radical proposal that revealed Labour's deeply ingrained anti-car ideology. Under the proposals, as drafted, councils would have the power to "prohibit or restrict the use of motor vehicles, or one or more classes of motor vehicles, on the roadway". They will also be allowed to pilot street changes for up to two years without consulting with impacted people, businesses and communities beforehand. Councils will have to give the public a reasonable opportunity to provide feedback during the trial and can modify the pilot. Before the pilot ends, councils need to decide whether to make any or all of the piloted changes permanent. Another proposal allows councils to "filter" traffic on roads by installing bollards or planter boxes. This will stop cars and/or other vehicles using roads in favour of pedestrians, cyclists and people on scooters and skateboards. Wood's proposal to get more parents and children out of cars and walking or cycling to school is called "School Streets" and follows similar changes in the United Kingdom and Canada. It would restrict traffic at or near a school during drop-off and pick-up times. Councils will also have the power to create a "School Street" or set one up as part of a pilot, but Wood said he expected councils will work with schools when making changes. The combined changes go beyond AT's controversial new parking strategy to remove kerbside parking for cycleways, which has been pushed back until after the local body election in October after failing to get public support and for some further consultation. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff trashed the first version that gave AT unfettered power to remove parking as "totally arrogant" and anti-democratic. Goff said the "Reshaping Streets" proposals will not undermine the democratic process and said it allows for greater flexibility around consultation. "Local authorities would be able to modify a pilot while it is underway in response to feedback, leading to improved outcomes for streetscape upgrades that better meet the needs of local communities," he said. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff. Photo / Dean Purcell AT, which is responsible for any new roading powers, would be working with Auckland Council to prepare a joint submission on the proposals, a spokesman said. "We're not in a position to give an AT perspective until we have finalised our submission with the council," said the spokesman, adding AT had not formally advocated for any of the proposals.He said the revised version of the draft parking strategy will be the overarching strategy guiding the management of on-street parking in Auckland. Simon Douglas, general manager of motoring affairs for the Automobile Association, said there were some sensible technical adjustments in Wood's proposals, such as changes around bus shelters, making it easier to create pedestrian malls and community street events. But he said AA would want to look closely at the proposal to pilot street changes for up to two years with no pre-consultation with people, businesses and communities who might be impacted. "We have seen recently in Wellington cycleway changes that involved the removal of parking has really concerned small local businesses and it got as far as proposing judicial challenges," Douglas said. Simeon Brown said councils will have significantly heightened powers to carve up streets at their own discretion. "This means less consultation with communities when it comes to creating cycleways, removing on-street car parks, installing speed bumps and reducing speed limits. National Party transport spokesman Simeon Brown. Photo / Mark Mitchell "Kiwis could also lose access to their street due to 'modal filters', which would effectively allow the banning of cars, or some types of cars, from some streets. Additionally, streets could even be used as playgrounds at certain times during the day. "These proposals are radical and take road users out of the picture," he said. Wood sees the proposals through a different lens, saying many streets do not allow people to live, shop and meet with friends and whānau safely and easily. "Some of the rules for managing streets are 50 years old and outdated. We're moving to update them to reflect people's needs and give communities new ways to be involved in changes that affect them," he said. Public consultation on the proposals runs for six week until September 19. Wood plans to have a new regulatory rule for the "Reshaping Streets" proposals in place by the end of the year and some changes to the Local Government Act coming to Parliament next year. - Bernard Orsman, NZ HeraldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

County councillors who become pregnant will be able to avail of maternity leave under plans expected to be signed off at Cabinet this week. Minister of State Peter Burke is expected to bring the amendments to the Local Government Act to Cabinet today after they were deferred last week. Joining Aideen to discuss this was Labour Party Councillor Joanna Tuffy and Hazel Chu, Former Lord Mayor of Dublin.

County councillors who become pregnant will be able to avail of maternity leave under plans expected to be signed off at Cabinet this week. Minister of State Peter Burke is expected to bring the amendments to the Local Government Act to Cabinet today after they were deferred last week. Joining Aideen to discuss this was Labour Party Councillor Joanna Tuffy and Hazel Chu, Former Lord Mayor of Dublin.

Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 was a controversial amendment to the UK's Local Government Act 1986, enacted on 24 May 1988 and repealed on 21 June 2000 in Scotland, and on 18 November 2003 in the rest of the UK by section 122 of the Local Government Act 2003. The amendment stated that a local authority "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".Paul Baker, Professor of English Language at Lancaster University, joins Dan on the podcast in celebration of LGBT+ History Month. They discuss the background to the Act, how the press fanned the flames and what politicians said during debates, how protestors fought back to bring about the repeal of the law in the 2000s, and its eventual legacy.If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! To download the History Hit app please go to the Android or Apple store. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On today's episode of At Close of Business, journalist Jordan Murray walks through the state government's newly proposed reforms to the Local Government Act.

This week on Legally Speaking with Michael Mulligan:Some people opposed to the requirement to be vaccinated for COVID-19 to attend non-essential businesses such as restaurants and bars have suggested that they have a right to do these things because of the BC Human Rights Code. While the BC Human Rights Code does have a provision that precludes discrimination in the provision of service based on various factors including physical or mental disability, this is subject to “bona fide and reasonable justification” for denying service. It is also uncertain if a refusal to get vacated would constitute a physical or mental disability. More significantly, it's important to remember that the Human Rights Code is only a piece of provincial legislation. In British Columbia, there COVID-19 Related Measures Act became law on July 8, 2020. This act continues ministerial orders that were originally made pursuant to the Emergency Program Act. It also allows for new ministerial orders to be added to address COVID-19.Section 2 of the COVID-19 Related Measures Act specifies that in the event of a conflict with any other act of regulation, the COVID-19 Related Measures Act, and regulations under the act prevail.Therefore, if a ministerial order preventing unvaccinated people from attending non-essential businesses was found to conflict with some provision of the Human Rights Code, the ministerial order would prevail. It is therefore exceedingly unlikely there will be a successful Human Rights Code claim to permit unvaccinated people into non-essential businesses. Also on the show, a judicial review has found a decision of the Cowichan Valley Regional District to refuse permission to build a home to be unreasonable. The Cowichan Valley Regional District relied upon the Local Government Act and the Riparian Areas Protect Act to deny approval for a home to be built on Cowichan Lake.  The judge on the judicial review concluded that while the Riparian Areas Protect Act permitted development within 30 meters of the lake to be restricted if it would cause “harmful alteration, disruption of natural features, functions and conditions that support fish like processes in the riparian assessment area”, that it was unreasonable to use this justification to prohibit any development in that area. As a result, the couple wishing to build a new home will be allowed to do so. Follow this link for a transcript of the show and links to the cases discussed. 

It's our regular round up of news and issues of relevance to the local government sector, including the importance of accurate census data; vaccine incentive programs; the cost of potential rate exemptions for social housing; use of a new provision in the Local Government Act and lots more.

This pride month, we're exploring one of the most controversial laws ever introduced in the UK. Section 28 of the Local Government Act, introduced in 1988, prohibited the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities across the country, resulting in the erasure of queer culture and the demonisation of the LGBTQ+ community. The law led to one of the most successful civil rights movements in modern British history, however, the journey towards equality is far from over. FOLLOW US! Instagram: @legallycrimedpodcast Twitter: @CrimedLegally Facebook Group: Legally Crimed Podcast! Don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! :)

In this episode, co-founder of Stonewall Simon Fanshawe OBE deliberates his involvement in the formation of Stonewall in 1989 in response to Section 28 of the Local Government Act. Discussing gay rights during the height of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s and the stigma of AIDS that would come to mark the 1980s, Fanshawe notes that Stonewall pushed back against Section 28 through an appeal to the right of free speech. Taking up Stonewall’s recent political trajectory that focusses on trans rights which he characterises as the “Trojan horse for gender ideology,” Fanshawe elaborates how this essentialist ideology has moved against the rights and interests of women and gay men and lesbians while gaining enormous academic traction where the political today has become personal. Fanshawe addresses the paucity of diversity of differing points of view within Stonewall today expanding upon how a community’s struggle for freedom has been subsumed by a highly individualistic narrative where personal identity does not match material reality. Covering the history of camp within gay culture, Fanshawe analyses the drag queen who transgresses social codes simply because there is no pretence of “the real.” In drag there is no affirmation of identity—there is only camp which exposes “the flaw in masculinity” which lies in direct contrast to gender ideology’s “dull conformity that’s demanded by this lack of humour.” Get full access to Savage Minds at savageminds.substack.com/subscribe

A Wellington City councillor says it has become intolerable to be on the council while she tries to keep out of the "splatter zone".Mayor Andy Foster has announced an independent review of the city council's governance.Today he told councillors at a full Wellington City Council meeting it was apparent they have arrived at a crossroads and a significant change in governance was required."The time to do that is now," Foster said."A succession of incidents and comments over a period of time has given cause to an environment of public and media speculation and now ministerial comment."An advisory was sent to media that the mayor would hold a press conference on the issue at 1pm and Wellington City councillors would be in attendance.But some councillors didn't know about the event until the Herald publicised the fact.Councillor Nicola Young told the Herald it has become intolerable to be on the council and she has found it very difficult."I'm an independent councillor and my first priority is to serve Wellington but there are lots of political agendas and I've just been trying to keep out of the splatter zone."But it has been a very uncomfortable time so I just hope the review achieves something because we have to get on and sort out Wellington's problems," Young said.Foster said the public's belief in their ability as councillors, and as an elected group to govern, has been shaken and eroded."I want us all as elected representatives to seize this moment, dispel the current atmosphere of rancour and partisanship and move to a position where can make better decisions and focus on what really matters."Yesterday, Minister for Local Government Nanaia Mahuta said she hasn't sought advice on whether a commissioner or observer would be appropriate for Wellington City Council - yet."I certainly don't want to be the Minister for Local Government commissions and my preference is to ensure that local government and councils have the ability to undertake other avenues to be able to strengthen their governance or seek advice and support."They have their own professional entities that can offer that type of advice and I would urge them to look that way first."Foster said the fact the minister has even formally commented should be of concern to all elected members.It has been a tumultuous few days for Wellington City Council after deliberations boiled over at a Long Term Plan meeting on Thursday.Foster has found himself in a very public feud with some councillors over his proposal to sell part of the Central Library building.Meanwhile, Wellington's local Green Party is convening and set to issue a "please explain" after Deputy Mayor Sarah Free voted against a proposal to triple the cycleway budget.Foster said the review would undertake face-to-face meetings, observe the governance and practice of the council, and provide a recommended action plan.A notice of motion was circulated for councillors to sign, but every councillor stood in support of the move."I want to ensure Wellington City retains a democratically elected council," Foster said.Foster has faced frequent speculation about whether commissioners should be called in over the course of what has been a bumpy first term in the top job.At the weekend, councillor Fleur Fitzsimons wrote to the Auditor-General asking for an investigation into a last-minute proposal to sell part of the Central Library building.She voiced concerns that recent decision-making over the building isn't consistent with the Local Government Act or in line with good governance.Councillors reactIn response to the announcement today, Fitzsimons said she wholeheartedly welcomed the announcement of a review."There are major problems with governance in this council and hopefully the review will get to the bottom of them and resolve it."But she cautioned the review could not result in elected members and residents further removed from decision-making."We need more local democracy, not less...

On this week's Governance Update with Chris Eddy and Stephen Cooper, discussion points include:  Ballarat City Council's Governance and Culture Review; the schedule of milestones due under the Local Government Act 2020; how do we define what it means to operate in a principles based environment; and the upcoming VLGA Fast Track Leadership day.

On the weekly Governance Update, we're joined by Hannah Duncan-Jones from Local Government Victoria to discuss upcoming deadlines under the Local Government Act 2020, including adoption of new Councillor Codes of Conduct and Community Engagement Policies; some new definitions in the Register of Interest forms; and setting policies to give effect to the financial management principles in the Act.

In 1988 the British government passed explicitly anti-gay legislation. Through log book entries from Switchboard, Tash and Adam return to the scene: lawmakers spaffing about what constitutes a family, gay teachers zipping up and living in fear, and bewildered young people with seemingly nowhere to turn to for advice. This episode is filled with untold stories about Section 28 of the Local Government Act and the censorship of LGBTQ+ lives — and concludes with the joyous launch of a new kids' book by Olly Pike called Kenny Lives With Erica and Martina.Content warning: attacks on LGBTQ+ people, including language that some people may find offensive.The Log Books — stories from Britain's LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute and the BFI National Archive.TV clip from Gay Rights – The London Programme, produced by LWT, April 10th, 1987. TV clip from Back In The Closet, produced by Thames TV, January 14th, 1988.For more information about Section 28, take a look at:Section 28 detailed history from the LGBT+ History ForumMusic by Tom Foskett-BarnesArtwork by Natalie Dotohttps://www.thelogbooks.orgSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's our first year-end review on the Governance Update. Chris Eddy and Steve Cooper look back on the highlights and lowlights of the year, including COVID-19, Council elections, and introduction of the new Local Government Act. We touch on where the integrity agencies were focused, and look at some of the learnings for the sector - all with an appropriately festive feel!

Introducing Mike Reid Mike began his career in local government in 1985 with a community advisor role in Christchurch City Council, not anticipating HOW interesting it would be. Fast forward 35 years, and Mike is New Zealand's leading expert on everything local government. Mike obviously has a big brain, and you can hear that in this episode. He's quoting studies and reports as if he read them all this morning in preparation for the interview. Mike's most recent project has been leading the Localism Project with Local Government New Zealand. You can connect with Mike on LinkedIn or contact him via email. In today's episode you'll learn about: The positive changes in council diversity over the last few decades (which may surprise you). The importance of one little word - “by” - in the Local Government Act that sometimes gets forgotten. What's happening with the Localism Project which Mike has been leading. Localism is about locals having power and resources to do good things in their community. But in NZ we have the most centralised government finances of any country in the OECD! Mike explains why that's a problem and a pathway for making change. Plus there's a story about how rats are bringing a new element of competition to a community in Wellington! Resources mentioned on the show Localism NZ website Article about sisters Pip and Melanie Maynard - highlighting the increase in diversified representation in local government. Local Government Act 2002 (Rewrite of the 1974 Act) 2020 Report - Survey of Local Government Candidates 2018 Report - Saving local democracy: An agenda for the new government UK Localism Act 2011 2012 Report - No Stone Unturned: In pursuit of growth. An Independent report by Lord Heseltine with recommendations on how to increase UK economic growth. Further reports and papers written by Mike --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beyondconsultation/message

On this week's VLGA Connect Governance Update, Chris Eddy and Stephen Cooper are joined by Hannah Duncan-Jones from Local Government Victoria for an update on Local Government Act implementation, including: new standards of conduct; online oath or affirmation of office; allowances for mayors and councillors, and more.

This week, Chris Eddy and Steve Cooper are joined on the Governance Update by Hannah Duncan-Jones from Local Government Victoria, to discuss the Council election landscape, and progress with implementation of the Local Government Act 2020.

This week on the VLGA Connect Governance Update with Stephen Cooper, we talk about the new draft standards of conduct to guide behaviour and inform Councillor Codes of Conduct; the looming 1st September deadline for elements of the new Local Government Act; and significant late-term decisions for some Councils.

This week from the VLGA Newsroom, Kathryn Arndt reflects on the decision to proceed with Council elections in October, the significant co-design work currently occurring to implement the Local Government Act, plus more.

This webinar, recorded 11 August 2020, discussed practical information about deliberative engagement and how to adapt your approach to engagement to satisfy the new Victorian Local Government Act 2020. Panellists -Hannah Duncan-Jones, Director Responsible for the Implementation of the Local Government Act 2020, Local Government and Suburban Development Group, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions -Sharon Redmond, Project Manager, Legislation Implementation, Local Government Victoria, Local Government and Suburban Development Group, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions -Moderated by Amy Hubbard – Capire Consulting Group and IAP2 Australasia Director.   Topics An overview of the relevant changes to the Victorian Local Government Act What the new legislation is aiming to achieve Where to find out more IAP2 Australasia Leading the national conversation on authentic community and stakeholder engagement. IAP2 Australasia is proud to be recognised as an affiliate of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2). We are a member association incorporating individuals, governments, institutions and other entities that affect the public interest throughout the world. As a not-for-profit organisation, our aim is to advance the education of the community by teaching and communicating the principles of public participation and how to achieve effective community and stakeholder engagement. Find out more about IAP2 Australasia, including training, membership, events and other resources, visit https://iap2.org.au/

Chris Eddy and Stephen Cooper discuss the week's governance agenda, including elections and safe campaigning; Local Government Act implementation and pending changes for committee arrangements; and the role of councillors when appointed to other boards and committees.

On this week's Governance Update with Stephen Cooper, we muse about the implications of delaying this year's Council's elections; the imminently imminent election regulations; and opportunities to help design the implementation of elements of the new Local Government Act.

Stephen Cooper brings us the latest on implementation of the new Local Government Act 2020, including engagement processes, development of Councillor Induction Training and more.

On this week's Governance Update with Stephen Cooper, we discuss the status of the various engagement processes for the tranche of Local Government Act provisions coming into effect on 1st September.

Stephen Cooper returns with a Governance Update, talking October Council elections, an Ombudsman report into recruitment and selection processes at a large regional Council, implementation of the new Local Government Act, and prospective Council candidate information 

Stephen Cooper of Civic Mind returns to talk about the latest governance issues in local government in Victoria, including electoral structures, the newest sections of the Local Government Act to come into effect, and the take up of virtual Council meetings.