Department of Local Government to significantly increase direct monitoring of city, town & shire councils [Audio]

11/8/98

The Department of Local Government will significantly increase its direct monitoring of city, town and shire councils, Local Government Minister Paul Omodei announced today.

The announcement coincides with the release to all local governments of a report 'Monitoring Local Government' which details the department's intentions, the structure of its monitoring program, and the expected outcomes.

Mr Omodei said the expanded monitoring program was possible because the State Government provided additional resources in this year's budget to increase the monitoring staff in the department.

The prime focus of the program would be to provide guidance, assistance and support, but the department would take punitive action where this was necessary.

As an integral part of the monitoring program, the department would develop a comprehensive data base of compliance and performance which would help to identify local governments which would need field monitoring in relation to either their overall performance or specific aspects of it.

In serious situations, a supervisory panel chaired by a senior departmental officer would be appointed to work with a local government for a period of time. Failure to comply with the directions of such a panel could lead to suspension of a council.

The existing Council Advice Program, where an expert panel advised on a council's operations, usually at the council's invitation, and the CEO Support Program run in conjunction with the Institute of Municipal Administration for new CEOs, would continue.

The department would also continue to make use of inquiries ordered by the executive director or, in the most serious cases, the Minister.

The major formal outcome of the enhanced monitoring program would be a comprehensive biennial report by the department to the Minister on the statutory compliance and performance of individual local governments and the sector as a whole.

The first of these would be presented in January 2000.

Mr Omodei said that traditionally, departmental monitoring had concentrated on the administration, but the new approach would involve a significantly increased emphasis on elected members as individuals, as a decision-making group, and in their relationship with the administration.

Monitoring would not only focus on ensuring that local governments complied with the law, but also on disseminating new ideas and best practice more rapidly through the sector.

It would also continually assess the effectiveness of the training available to councillors and staff and recommend improvements where appropriate.

Media contact: Hugh Ryan 94813244