The issue of community consultation has been put on the election agenda by several candidates. The latest was by ALP Lord Mayor candidate Chris Connor, who was interviewed on ABC radio 97.3FM this morning (Tuesday 16 August) under the catch line of an undertaking to consult with every household.
When asked, by interviewer Nick Rheinberger, how this could be done Chris suggested that some form of questionnaire could go out with every rate notice. Not a bad idea for some major issues, but as many people pay their rates annually, this would not be a very active means of consulting.
When pressed by Nick, Chris also suggested the use of social media such as Twitter. Another good idea, and also subject to problems as Nick pointed out in terms of how much weight can be put on the twittering of a small but vocal number of people who feel passionate about a particular issue.
It seems to me there is a great space between these two extremes and that space is best filled by Ward-based Precinct Committees which, as committees of Council, meet regularly (once a month). These are more accessible to local households in the Ward, and well-placed to serve as a community-council conduit and clearing house.
One candidate asked me if Precinct Committees would replace elected Councillors. No way! Our elected Councillors are a key part of our local democratic process. The role of Precinct Committees should be to reduce some of the donkey work from Councillors so they can concentrate their full attention on matters which require a higher level of attention. That is, Precinct Committees must complement the work of Councillors.
With the massive workloads on Councillors, and the fact that they are not full-time paid positions, we need to recruit our local community expertise and talent into the task of properly managing community business.
Some of the features of a new model for Precinct Committees which I have garnered from experience over the years include:
PRECINCT COMMITTEES
1. Change the Local Government Act to provide for and protect properly resourced Precinct Committees as formal committees of local council. (Protection to include provision that a Precinct Committee cannot be abolished or dissolved by a simple majority of Council).
2. Precinct Committees to consist of twelve community representatives elected annually from residents within the Precinct area. (Full disclosure provisions to apply to those seeking election to Precinct Committees).
3. Precinct Committees will be provided with Council funding and resources necessary for them to fulfil their functions.
4. The provision of coordination services for a Precinct Committee shall be contracted out, with Council providing the funding for these services and the Precinct committee and Council jointly selecting the successful tenderer. (alternatively, Council to provide a Ward-based Liaison Officer who works with and for the Precinct Committee.)
5. All general meetings of Precinct Committees to open to all residents, with rights to speak and a right to provide an indicative (non-binding) vote; Committee members required to comply with Council level disclosure provisions when dealing with items of business and voting; the Model Rules for organisations (modified as required) to serve as a blueprint for conduct of Precinct Committees (and as set out by other legislation).
6. Functions of Precinct Committees to be determined by community consultation, but may include the provision of a conduit between people in the local area and other levels of government; setting funding priorities for the local area; recognition of their role as an authority in determining the local character of the area (including cultural heritage matters and questions of significance in relation to the cultural and natural environment); a role in the selection and review of Council staff; a role to provide community representatives to other bodies.
7. Change the Local Government Act to ensure that Precinct Committees have an effective role to play in community consultation for major projects of state significance and have the resources required for this task.
8. Change the Local Government Act (and Planning Act) to require all major projects of state significance to be issued with a “statement of community consent” from the relevant Precinct Committee as a prior and necessary condition for the NSW Planning Minister to grant development consent (such statement of community consent not to be unreasonably withheld – with a test of ‘reason’ in contested cases being determined by a popular vote within the area of the Precinct Committee).
9. Precinct Committees to be Community Trusts for holding title to community land within their area, and in the management of these lands in keeping with community based plans for these lands, and other conditions (such as respecting the conditions of original grants).
NEED FOR COUNCIL- COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
This model may be in need of an update. No doubt other people have some great suggestions of ways these Precinct Committees could be improved in order to serve as accountable and effective vehicles for our communities aspirations.
What the new Council could do, after elected in September, is hold a Council-Community workshop to discuss the design of Precinct Committees (or similar) with the view to finalising the design and implementing them by December 2011.
Input from Council officers is an important ingredient in getting a realistic model from their point of view, and they need to be able to freely participate in the workshop.
Perhaps it is too much to expect that Council could engage a professional community development consultant to manage this workshop and implementation of the outcomes? That would be money well spent.
Bruce Reyburn
(Note – reformwcc.info is not part of any political party or group and has not endorsed or announced support for any candidates in the Wollongong City Council election.)
