Reforming Local Government

Consultation Process

Now Closed

This online engagement was hosted on YourSAy from 26 March 2019 to 26 April 2019. Below is a record of the consultation process.

We want your ideas on how our local councils can become more effective, efficient and deliver better outcomes for their communities.

What is being decided?

Local councils operate within a legislative framework which includes the Local Government Act 1999 and Local Government (Elections) Act 1999. We are currently reviewing this legislation to ensure all our local councils are productive and operating well. We want your ideas on how we can improve the way councils work. This is your opportunity to help shape local government reform.

Councils play an important role in our community. They manage local assets such as roads and footpaths, community buildings and land, recreational facilities, parks and gardens and they provide critical services such as waste management, library, social, environmental and health services.

Councils are responsible governments in their own right, that are elected, raise taxes in the form of rates, and make decisions about the best way to spend public money.

The fundamentals of local government are working well, the principal roles and functions of a council, their size and constitution. However, there are several areas of local government that could benefit from a fresh look and sensible reform.

We have identified 4 areas for potential improvement that we would like you to consider.

• Council membership and conduct
• Financial accountability
• Voting and election procedures
• Statutory requirements

We would like to hear ideas for improvements that will assist your council to better focus on the services your community values most.

Get involved

Read more about the 4 areas for potential reform in background section and provide your feedback. Tell us your ideas for improving the way councils operate.

• Join the online discussion
• Email: DPTI.LocalGovernmentReform@sa.gov.au
• Participate in the survey
• Submit your written feedback to:

Office for Local Government
GPO Box 1533
Adelaide SA 5001

How will your input be used?

Your ideas will contribute towards developing discussion papers that will help us decide what should be included in the legislation for Local Government.

What are the next steps?

The discussion papers will be released in mid 2019, outlining potential proposals for local government reform.

Following debate and discussion on these proposals, Government will decide what should be included in the legislation reform for Local Government, which will then be introduced to Parliament in the first quarter of 2020.

Contact:

For further information email: DPTI.LocalGovernmentReform@sa.gov.au

Closing date: 5pm Friday 26 April 2019

Background

Now Closed

This online engagement was hosted on YourSAy from 26 March 2019 to 26 April 2019. Below is a record of this enegagement.

The fundamentals of local government are working well, the principal roles and functions of a council, their size and constitution. However, there are several areas of local government that could benefit from a fresh look and sensible reform

We have identified 4 areas for potential improvement that we would like you to consider.

Reform area 1 - Stronger council member capacity and better conduct:

Council members nominate for council to make decisions for, and to act in the best interests of their community. Legislation plays an important role in assisting them to do this, and to ensure that their decisions are always made with the highest standards of integrity.

We are seeking ideas on the tools that councils need to ensure that relationships amongst their members are constructive, and that all council members have the knowledge and skills to perform their roles.

Reform area 2 - Lower costs and enhanced financial accountability:

We’re interested in ideas about ways to improve the provisions that guide all councils’ financial accountability, to deliver a system of local government that councils’ constituents see as robust, sustainable and transparent.

Reform area 3 - Efficient and transparent local government representation:

The review will also incorporate a review of the 2018 local government elections. This review may consider all aspects of local government elections, for example, voting methods, the voters roll, timing of elections, the role of candidate donations and information provided to voters.

Reform area 4 - Simpler regulation:

This review is an opportunity to identify statutory requirements whose costs outweigh their public benefits.

We would like to hear ideas for improvements that will allow your council to better focus on the services that your community values most.