Ian Mann CT Management Group 0429 941 435 ianm@ctman.com.au
The functions of a Council include (a) advocating and promoting proposals which are in the best interests of the local community; (b) planning for and providing services and facilities for the local community; (c) providing and maintaining community infrastructure in the municipal district; (d) undertaking strategic and land use planning for the municipal district; (e) raising revenue to enable the Council to perform its functions; (f) making and enforcing local laws; (g) exercising, performing and discharging the duties, functions and powers of Councils under this Act and other Acts; (h) any other function relating to the peace, order and good government of the municipal district. Section 3E - Local Government Act
Local Government is complex Revenue Grant indexation frozen Reduced Fed and State Gov spending Resistance to User Fee increases Expenditure Community demanding more More services Higher standards Cost escalations greater than CPI Increasing demands from Government Rate Capping is just another Challenge
Revenue (Rate) growth Traditionally based on expenditure growth we fund the need Have we become complacent? Expenditure Constraints There is some lack of flexibility Legislated responsibilities State and Federal Government conferred obligations Statutory Planning Control Heavy Vehicle National Law Some costs fixed by third parties (lack of LG control) Landfill levy Utility charges
Rate Capping constrains Revenue growth It should not constrain CHOICE It is the Council that decides where the funds are spent
Most Council services are not self funding Generally not commercial (need to be subsidised) Most services have a social undertaking or a community service obligation Rates and/or Government Grants provide the subsidy
The question is - which services get the Rate funding How are these Services defined? What are Council s priorities Who decides? Council? Community (the service recipients)? What information is required? Evidence based decisions We need to achieve the best outcomes for our community Customer centric solutions Are we trying to do too much? We cannot continue to be all things to all people Does this lead to a focus on Core services?
We are the Problem Solvers and project delivery agents Our focus should be to achieve the best outcome for the community Provide Leadership Cultural change Allow different ways of thinking and doing Take some risk Create some thinking space Leave our ego s at home Transformational Change Innovative Solutions Disruptive Practices
Efficiency Improvements Sector wide Transformational Change Customer centric outcomes Business process improvements New ways of doing things Virtual Councils Resource sharing Collaboration
Strategic decisions around Services and Infrastructure Prioritising the Importance of the Service Define and understand the Service and supporting Infrastructure Comparative choice Community involvement Maintaining an effective Level of Service Managing Risk Community benefit Need smarter ways to assess Integrated solutions Recognising the symbiotic relationship between the delivery of a service and its supporting assets
Strategically Think long term plan the strategy Lay the foundations for good policy (services and assets) Support evidence based decisions Operationally Review and Improve your processes Look for innovative solutions new ways of doing things Work together and learn from each other Share the knowledge and ideas
Ian Mann CT Management Group 0429 941 435 ianm@ctman.com.au