Productivity Commission Inquiry | NRM Levy | Local government reform | Guide to Road Safety Strategy | ICAC report No Images? Click here Vol 4: Issue 20 - Monday 16 September 2019 This week I’ll be launching our circular procurement pilot project, with participating councils signing an MOU to prioritise purchasing products made from recycled materials. This MOU will send a clear message to the industry about the type of products councils want to purchase as part of their commitment to supporting the environment and improving their sustainability. China’s National Sword and the Government’s 40% Bin Tax increase have had a big impact on our budgets, but this is an opportunity for us to play an active role in supporting the development of a circular economy, and ultimately reducing our waste and recycling costs. I would like to acknowledge the participating councils – Adelaide Hills, Burnside, Charles Sturt, Mount Barker, Murray Bridge, Norwood Payneham & St Peters, Onkaparinga, Port Adelaide Enfield, and Prospect – as well as Green Industries SA for funding the project. LGA President Sam Telfer Productivity Commission InquiryWhile the Productivity Commission’s draft report shows SA councils are generally achieving a high level of efficiency when compared against each other, it still raises a number of questions for the sector which we need your help to answer. In total, there are 19 requests for further information that cover workforce planning, resource sharing, industrial relations reform, and accountability and transparency measures. We’ll be working with members throughout the eight-week consultation period to gather this information for the Commission before their final report is delivered in November. The deadline for council feedback to be included in the LGA’s submission is 4 October, but councils can provide their own submissions directly to the Productivity Commission up until 25 October. The LGA has produced a discussion paper to help councils consider the draft report that you can download here. NRM LevyAt the request of members, the LGA has been pursuing changes to State Legislation to remove the obligation on councils to collect and pass on the State Government’s NRM Levy. There are administrative costs to councils in chasing payments, and in 2016 there was almost $700,000 owed to our sector in unpaid levies. Additionally, many ratepayers mistake the Levy for a local government tax and criticise councils for NRM increases they have no control over. Last week we moved one step closer towards removing this burden on councils, thanks to an amendment to the Landscape South Australia Bill moved in the Upper House by SA-BEST and passed with the support of the Greens SA and Opposition. I would like to thank all three parties for supporting changes that relieve councils and their ratepayers from a State Government responsibility that is costing time and money. The amended Bill now needs to return to the Lower House and we are asking the Government to support the changes and accept responsibility for collecting their own revenue. Local government reformThe final metropolitan workshop on the Government’s local government reform discussion paper will be held at LG House on Wednesday 25 September. This session will run from 6-8pm with a light meal provided, and mayors, council members, CEOs and key council staff are all invited to attend. Your councils will need to finalise their positions at their September or October council meetings in order to meet the State Government’s 1 November deadline for feedback. The LGA has produced a discussion paper to help councils consider the proposed reforms that can be downloaded from our website. Please provide your council submissions to our Local Government Reform Partner Andrew Lamb at andrew.lamb@lga.sa.gov.au as soon as possible so they can inform and direct the LGA’s submission and advocacy. Guide to Road Safety StrategyCouncils manage, build, maintain and regulate roads and have an important role in road safety. The LGA has worked with members to produce a Guide to Local Government Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan that is designed to help councils develop their own local road safety strategies and action plans. The guide is based on the Safe Systems approach around Safe Roads, Safe Speeds, Safe Vehicles and Safe People, and is consistent with national and state approaches. It identifies future advocacy priorities and partnership opportunities for the LGA to pursue, and provides a range of strategies and actions under each of the four tenets of the Safe Systems approach which councils can use or adapt. The strategies and actions proposed in this Guide are suggestions, to be considered as appropriate according to your council’s budget, resources and priorities. ICAC reportLast week the Independent Commission Against Corruption released a Local Government Integrity Insights report, based on findings from the 2018 ICAC Public Integrity Survey. It found survey responses from local government were generally more positive than other participants, with a higher proportion believing their organisation had policies and procedures in place for reporting. However, the report also highlighted concerns some employees have with the handling of internal reports, and the lack of protections available. To assist member councils, the LGA recently released an updated Fraud, Corruption, Misconduct and Maladministration Prevention Model Policy for councils, which now covers the role of ICAC in misconduct and maladministration matter, and the obligations of public officers. It also includes links to the processes and protections provided by the new Public Interest Disclosure Act. The Statutes Amendment (Attorney General’s Portfolio) No. 2 Bill 2019 passed last week, and when assented will amend the Public Interest Disclosure Act to require councils to have procedures in place for the effective handling of public interest disclosures (which public officers can use to report ICAC matters internally). Should you have any question around these matters please contact the LGA’s Director Governance and Legislation Alicia Stewart on 8224 2037 or at alicia.stewart@lga.sa.go.au. Conflict of interestSeveral elected members have contacted the Ombudsman and/or the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption seeking clarification on whether a conflict of interest arises where a council resolves to send an elected member to a conference or event. The Commissioner wrote to the LGA to clarify his position on the matter and advises: “Generally speaking, I do not think that a conflict of interest arises on the part of an elected member simply by virtue of the fact that the elected member has been selected to attend a conference or event on behalf of the council. I do not think that the elected member could be seen to derive a benefit from fulfilling his or her duties as an elected member. However a conflict of interest may arise when the elected member intends to (or could be perceived to) use his or her attendance at the conference or event to pursue personal interests. For example, the elected member may use (or be seen to use) the forum to pursue private business opportunities or in the case of an interstate or international event, to pursue other recreational activities. I think that each matter must be considered on its merits in deciding whether or not a conflict of interest arises and if so, how that conflict ought to be managed.” This is useful clarification for the sector, and we thank the Commissioner for sharing his position. Public speaking workshopLGA Training is developing an “Enhanced Public Speaking and Presenting for Elected Members” workshop, to be facilitated by award-winning former journalist Georgina McGuinness. If you are interested in participating, please contact the LGA’s Manager Education and Training Liz O’Flynn by the end of this week at liz.oflynn@lga.sa.gov.au. Depending on interest, multiple workshops may be held in metro Adelaide and regional SA. For further information or to submit |