Navigating Local Government
Information from Becoming a Councillor
Division of Local GovernmentNSW Department of Premier and Cabinet
in cooperation with the Local Government Association of NSWand the Shires Association of NSW
What is Local Government?
FEDERALGOVERNMENT
STATEGOVERNMENT
LOCALGOVERNMENT
•Foreign affairs•Defence•Trade relations•Communications• Immigration•Pensions
•Public hospitals•Public schools•Police service•Ambulance service•Fire brigades•State roads
•Town planning•Strategic planning•Cultural development•Public libraries•Childcare•Local roads
The Local Government Charter (Local Gov Act, 1993)
Council has a charter to conduct the following: services and facilities for the community community leadership the principles of multiculturalism the needs of children manage the environment long term effects of its decisions custodian and trustee of public assets long-term strategic planning social justice principles involve councillors, members of the public, users of
facilities and services and council staff
raise fund keep the local community and State government informed acts consistently and without bias responsible employer.
Services and Functions of Council
Providing and maintaining infrastructure
Planning for sustainable development
Protecting the environment
Supporting community development
Safeguarding public health
Services and Functions of Council
Why does local service provision vary between councils? Availability of finance to fund certain services
Size, location and demographics of a local government area
Commitment to maintaining existing services
The views, wishes and needs of the community.
How are Councils funded?
Local community by rates
Borrow and invest money
Fees for the use of publicly owned facilities and for giving information, supplying products or receiving applications
Commonwealth financial assistance grant
Grants from other sources
Income from the interest on surplus funds
How are Councils structured? Five and fifteen elected councillors Board of a public company, not involved in the day-to-day
running of the council Specialist committees Employed staff to administer the council General manager most senior member of staff Council staff responsible to the general manager, not the
councillors Councillors cannot direct staff Roles defined in the Local Government Act.
How are Councils structured?
Local Gov ActCouncillo
rs General Manager
Divisions of Council (Directors)
Managers
Staff
Divisions of Council (Directors)
Managers
Staff
Divisions of Council (Directors)
Managers
Staff
Divisions of Council (Directors)
Managers
Staff
A new planning and reporting framework replaces the former Management Plan and Social Plan with an integrated framework.
The new framework recognises that communities do not exist in isolation – they are part of a larger natural, social, economic and political environment that influences and, to a large extent, shapes their future direction.
Neither do council plans exist in isolation – land use and infrastructure planning produces social, environmental and economic outcomes, and vice-versa – they are connected.
This framework encourages councils to draw their various plans together, to understand how they interact and to get the maximum leverage from their efforts by planning holistically for the future.
How do Councils Plan?
How do Councils Plan?Community Strategic Plan
10 year vision identify the community’s aspirations and priorities
Delivery Program point of reference for all activities undertaken by council
during each four-year term of office
Operational Plan spells out the details of the Delivery Program includes the budget for that year.
Resourcing Strategy time, money, assets and people three components:
• Long Term Financial Planning• Workforce Management Planning• Asset Management Planning
What happens to Council’s Social Plans?
Councils will no longer be required to complete a separate Social/Community Plan.
Instead, social and community planning becomes an integral part of the development of the Community Strategic Plan.
Councils must ensure that their Community Strategic Plan adequately addresses social as well as environmental, economic and civic leadership issues. It must also reflect the four social justice principles of equity, access, participation and rights.
Councils will need to consider the social issues and priorities in these plans, and consider how they fit appropriately into the Community Strategic Plan, the Delivery Program and Operational Plans.
Where can I find a copy of these plans?
www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au > Visit the ‘Integrated Planning and Reporting’
tab in the right hand column
www.kiama.nsw.gov.au > Visit the ‘Your Council’ tab and
click Public Documents
Other Council services might you be interested in…
Current and future population demographics
How many people live in Shellharbour or Kiama? How many recently arrived? From where? How old are they? Where do they work? How much income do
they have? How many people are studying and where?
Community Profile: ABS data summarised in text, simple tables and charts
Community Atlas: key socio-demographic characteristics presented as interactive maps
Population Forecasts: population projections up to the year 2031 for the City of Shellharbour and its suburbs
Where can I find these tools?
www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au > Visit the ‘City Demographics’ tab
on the left of the site
www.kiama.nsw.gov.au> Visit the Community Tab
and Then click Community Services Plans
Questions?
ContactsGeneral Managers
Kiama Council Michael Forsyth4232 0444
[email protected] Shellharbour Council Michael Willis 4221 611
Directors , Community Services
Kiama Council Clare Rogers 4232 [email protected]
Shellharbour Council Carey McIntyre 4221 6170
Managers , Community Services
Kiama Council Nick Guggisberg 4232 [email protected]
Shellharbour Council Kathryn Baget – Juleff 4221 6170
