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.)

The NSW government Minister for Local Government, Don Page, has said he thinks Section 8 of the Local Government Act is too broad. (Win TV news Wed 10 August). The news item was in connection with cutting costs of Councils by way of (voluntary) Council amalgamations.

What does the Minister have in mind? This is an issue which candidates for Council need to be up to speed on.

Here is a press release from the Minister regarding another important conference which we will not have elected representatives at:

FORUM TO FOCUS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM
Wednesday, 10 August 2011 08:07

Local Government Minister Don Page has announced that representatives of the NSW local government sector will meet in Dubbo next week to discuss positive ideas for the future of local government in this State.

Destination 2036 next Wednesday and Thursday will be two days of dialogue between the leaders of the 152 councils in NSW, overseen by Minister Page and with input from other council representatives – all focused on meeting the challenges for councils and the local government sector.

“Destination 2036 is a unique event that will bring together all the mayors and general managers of every NSW council to seek their input and positive ideas about local government over the next 25 years, with a special emphasis on the next four years,” Mr Page said.

“Destination 2036 is a fantastic opportunity – the first time ever that NSW has seen this sort of strategic, creative and participatory approach applied to the many issues that face local government as we move further into the 21st Century.

“This is historic: all leaders of local government in NSW talking together about the future, and planning for the kind of councils that NSW communities deserve.

“From my perspective, nothing is sacred – everything will be open for discussion and I expect everyone involved to approach the workshop from a similar perspective.

“The NSW Liberal/Nationals Government is committed to reforming the local government sector and addressing the issues that need our attention; issues that councils recognise as ongoing challenges.”

Mr Page said he expected all aspects of local government would be scrutinised.

“I anticipate that there will be clear outcomes at the end of the two days, with a constructive and achievable action plan for a sustainable local government sector in the future,” Mr Page said.

“Ultimately, the outcomes and action plan that emerge will belong to the participants and will be for the NSW Government to consider, so I am happy that all councils will be heard.””

(ends)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1993 – SECT 8

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/lga1993182/s8.html

(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.)

Having posed some questions for candidates running for office in the Wollongong Council election, and having received at least one response, reformwcc is now trying to find out from the NSW Electoral Commission if a reply from a candidate posted to a website has to carry the appropriate authorisation as is required on other electoral material during the regulated election period.

People attending the candidate briefing session at WCC a few weeks back were told that the law is unclear in relation to the internet and candidates were advised to err on the safe side.

Until there is a clear reply from the NSW Electoral Commission, reformwcc is refraining from posting replies from candidates on this website. May take five working days says their auto-responder.

See the NSW Electoral Commission “Handbook. Parties, Groups, Candidates and Scrutineers at Local Government Elections Wollongong City Council etc” page 25 for definitions of electoral material and electoral matter.

It states that Electoral Material is “… anything else containing electoral matter.” Electoral Matter is also very broadly defined.

Does ‘electoral material’ include candidate’s letters to the printed newspaper – which seems an obvious parallel.

cheers

Bruce R

(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.)

Full lists of candidates for WCC Lord Mayor and Councillors are now back online.

Candidate information sheets for the Lord Mayoral candidates are also available there.

Councillor candidate info sheets have text for link added but no link? (6 pm Thursday.)

Lord Mayor candidates information sheets are well worth a read from the perspective of a potential employer.

Which LM candidate was born on 15-04-2011? Don’t you hate that when you do it yourself?

See:

http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/elections/wollongong_city_council_3_september_2011/candidates

(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.)

Reformwcc has received a copy of a message to Council from a concerned group regarding the apparent lack of compliance with a development approval for a business in the Helensburgh area.

As I do not know the facts I will not comment on that specific matter, but it appears (in general terms) to align with a similar situation in the Coledale area.

Opposition came from local Coledale-Wombarra people to a development proposal which provided for a comparatively enormous residence on land not zoned residential and on a previously development free platform area of the escarpment. The land was reportedly bought for a song (by the previous owner) probably due to the fact that it was not zoned residential.

The Trojan House was done in the name of a “manager’s residence” in connection with a comparatively modest proposed ecotourism accommodation business (some small cabins down at street level). This was, apparently, in keeping with the zoning. The Land and Environment Court overrode WCC and the business was approved.

The enormous manager’s residence has now been built but there is no sign of four cabins for the manager to attend to as shown on the original plan.

It may be that all is in order with a schedule of works and a timeline for the business to start, or there has been a proper modification of the original application, but how are members of the public to know? It does not appear on track as part of the area for the cabins looks as though it has been used for a large solar panel array.

But rather than raising specific cases, perhaps we can we add the issue of D.A. compliance into the discussional mix for candidates to address in the election campaign? There are several other well-known cases.

“Given the lack of resources for Council officers to ensure compliance with development approval consent conditions, how do you propose to address the compliance with conditions of consent issue if you are elected? Should consent be withdrawn, or other penalties applied, if the proposed business does not comply with conditions, and/or start on time or otherwise materialise?”

Or something like that. Let the candidates apply their creative talents to these bread and butter local government community issues and impress us with their answers.

Bruce Reyburn
Coledale

(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.)

Nominations for Wollongong City Council election closed at noon today (Wednesday 3 August)

NSW Electoral Commission has updated its list of candidates from this morning (but need to check with them if this is the full official list).

http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/elections/wollongong_city_council_3_september_2011/candidates

PS – Now you see it, now you don’t. List of candidates appears to have been removed – 8 pm. Wednesday

(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.)

Alice Cartan has served as a former Ward One Councillor, did the very hard yards as the Neighbourhood Forum 3 Convenor during the time Council was under Administration (2008-2011), and is running for Lord Mayor.

Check out Alice’s policies on this page on her Website.

http://alicecartan.com.au/our-communities/

(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.)

Greg Petty announced his Independent Team for Ward 1 [only].

In order:

Greg Petty,
Ray Robinson,
Karen Dinsdale
Tony Stoddart.

Greg Petty will also be running for Lord Mayor.

(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.)

Now the major parties and other groups have selected their candidates for the WCC election, there does not look like much of a role for this website (reformwcc.info) to play in the election campaign.

This website was originally started with the intention of adding to the community conversation on reforming WCC for the September 2008 election! Much dirty water under the bridge since then.

I am not associated with any party, group or candidate running for office at Wollongong City Council, nor will i be seeking to take on the onerous task of becoming a Councillor myself. Good luck to those who are able to serve our community in this position.

The three main issues with concern me are:

1. Koori representation on Council so there is an effective Koori voice in our Wollongong local government. What do Koories have to say about this?

2. A new form of Council-Community Committee system – ideally a Ward based Precinct committee (or Ward Community Board) with members elected from the wider community (in the Ward) and with Council supplying the resources the Committee needs to effectively engage with and represent their Ward constituency (a lot more than a few iphones and ipads in my experience!).

3. a recentralisation of Council as a form of organisation so we have, for starters, a Council liaison officer based in each Ward who, in addition to providing a Council point of contact, enables the Precinct Committee to carry out its functions. That is, a dedicated Ward officer and a Ward office to serve as Council contact point in each Ward (and not at the Council building in Ward 3).

Well, we’ll see how this all looks in a couple of months.

cheers

Bruce Reyburn
1 August 2011

For more on points 2 and 3 see:

Towards a Ward based reform model for WCC

http://reformwcc.info/2011/05/09/towards-a-ward-based-reform-model-for-wcc/

(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.)