Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Local Government Reform – Experience – Aspirations Metropolitan Local Government Review Dr Christopher Berry Project Director (seconded from the Department of Local Government) Presentation to the IPWEA Dialogue, 14 March 2012

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Metropolitan Local Government Review This presentation covers three areas Background to the Review Process Key considerations

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Background WA only State where significant structural reform of local government has not occurred Context of significant population growth –WA State population 2.35m, to grow to 3.06m by 2026 –Metro Perth population 1.7m, to grow to 2.4m by 2026 No. of LGs State Metropolitan Perth2730

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Background Sources: 1. ABS Government Finance Statistics, Australia, ; local government information returns 2. Based on Access Economics Report ABS Building Approvals, Australia Local Government Revenue (2009/10) 1. Value of Local Government Assets 2. Value of Building Approvals (2009/10) 3. Metropolitan Perth $1.95bEst. $6.5b$9b State $3.1bEst. $15b$13.1b

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Background Local Government Reform Program initiated in February 2009 Minister supporting a voluntary reform process across the State – some progress via RTGs and RCGs Financial support for Regional Business Plans 4 current regional transition groups (14 LGs) 5 current regional collaborative groups (23 LGs) Creation of City of Greater Geraldton 1 July 2011 (population 40,000+, formerly 3 LGs) LGAB Inquiry proposed merger shires of Yilgarn and Westonia – final report released

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Background Minister announced appointment of independent Panel to review metropolitan local government in June 2011 “the appointment of a high level independent Panel to examine the social, economic and environmental challenges facing Perth. … For the first time we will consider the future and identify the challenges and opportunities.”

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Independent Panel members Emeritus Professor Alan Robson AM CitWA (Chair) former Vice Chancellor of The University of Western Australia Dr Peter Tannock former Vice Chancellor of the University of Notre Dame Dr Sue van Leeuwen CEO of Leadership Western Australia

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Advisory Groups Director Generals –Department of Local Government – Jennifer Mathews –Department of Planning – Eric Lumsden WA Local Government Association –President - Cr Troy Pickard –Deputy President - Cr Steve Martin

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Panel Terms of Reference Identify current and anticipated specific regional, social, environmental and economic issues affecting, or likely to affect, the growth of metropolitan Perth in the next 50 years. Identify current and anticipated national and international factors likely to impact in the next 50 years. Research improved local government structures, and governance models and structures for the Perth metropolitan area, drawing on national and international experience and examining key issues relating to community representation, engagement, accountability and State imperatives among other things the Panel may identify during the course of the review. The independent Panel has been asked by the Minister for Local Government to:

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Terms of Reference cont. Identify new local government boundaries and a resultant reduction in the overall number of local governments to better meet the needs of the community. Prepare options to establish the most effective local government structures and governance models that take into account matters identified through the review including, but not limited to, community engagement, patterns of demographic change, regional and State growth and international factors which are likely to impact. Present a limited list of achievable options together with a recommendation on the preferred option.

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Defining the Perth Metropolitan area

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Review Process Review announced June 2011 First Panel meeting August 2011 Website critical (10,000 visits to date) All the papers considered by the Panel are on the website (40 background, briefing and information papers) Issues Paper released October 2011 for public comment Public forums November 2011 Submissions All submissions on the website where permission was given Draft findings – to be released 13 April 2012 Report to Minister, June 2012

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Website

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Key drivers Population growth – 3.5 million expected in 2056, coupled with demographic change Directions 2031 and Beyond –Spatial planning framework –Housing targets: infill and greenfields National Urban Policy COAG reform council review of capital city strategic planning

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Research Local government reforms elsewhere eg Auckland, Hobart, Queensland City governance models Community engagement Aspects of local government operations Local government financial position

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Issues paper: Key Questions 1.Do you think there is a need for better local government arrangements in metropolitan Perth? Why? Or why not? 2. If you think there is a need for a better local government system, what should the priorities of the new system be? What should its objectives be? 3.What are the best aspects of local government in its current form? 4.What is your vision for the future of the Perth metropolitan area? 5.What do you think are the biggest issues facing metropolitan Perth? 6.Do you think local government in metropolitan Perth is ready to face the demands and challenges of the next 50 years? If not, what do you think needs to be changed?

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Issues paper: Key Questions 7.Do you think that local government in Perth will be able to deal with national and international issues such as climate change and growing populations? 8.Do you think local government should be responsible for managing these issues, or should they be the responsibility of the State or federal governments? 9.Who should pay for the social and physical infrastructure and services required to cope with these issues? 10.Is metropolitan Perth in a position to be an effective international competitor? If not, what would you change? 11.What do you think about the other governance models discussed here, such as those adopted in Auckland or Vancouver? Which aspects of these models would work in Perth? Which aspects would not work? 12.Do you know of any governance systems that work well elsewhere, either in Australia or overseas and that might work well in Perth?

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Issues paper: Key Questions 13.Should more be done by local governments to engage with the community? 14.Should voting be compulsory for local government elections? 15.Does metropolitan Perth have too many local governments? What would be the advantages and disadvantages in reducing the number of local governments? 16.If the boundaries and or roles of Perth’s local governments are changed, what should be the criteria for doing so? Are the LGAB’s factors the right criteria? 17.Should local government boundaries be set by an independent body and reviewed at regular intervals? 18.If Perth’s local government boundaries do not change, how do you think services to communities could be improved?

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Issues paper: Key Questions 19.What do you consider are the main roles and responsibilities of local government? 20.In an urban area like Perth, which functions should belong to the State or Commonwealth governments? 21.Are there any State provided services that local government might be better placed to provide? 22.What do you consider to be the principles of good governance at a local level? 23.Do you think there should be greater State government oversight of issues, such as key performance indicators and senior local government employee appointments and salaries? 24.If you could make a recommendation to the Minister for Local Government about the best way to organise local government in metropolitan Perth, what would you say?

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Submissions Around 250 submissions received 160 from members of the public Community or government organisations Local governments Local government organisations All submissions posted to the Panel's website where permission was given

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Submission content Submissions contain a mixture of views about the need for local government, the need for the metropolitan review and what would be the best approach to reform. Views include: the abolition of local government issues with specific local governments local government more in tune with community than state or federal government some services better done at metro wide level

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Submission content: some views support change Review needed and long overdue Number of councils grossly excessive Too many local governments, too much bureaucracy Too much duplication of assets, infrastructure and people Standards and requirements different across local governments

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Submission content – some views against change No clear case for change - it isn't broken … Smaller local governments engage with the community better People feel they can be heard Small local governments deliver sense of place Local government submissions – some see need for change in the metropolitan area, but not in their local government

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Submission content: different views on size Keep what we have got … Population size at least 30,000 30,000 to 60,000 not larger than 100,000 local governments of 200,000 are efficient 350,000 to 500,000 a good compromise Brisbane model – a single local government for metro Perth

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Consultations Two public forums and local government forum Representatives of each metropolitan local government invited to meet with the Panel (25 of 30 invitations accepted) Representatives of key local government organisations eg. WALGA, LGMA Representatives of key organisations eg Committee for Perth, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Representatives of key State Government agencies

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Key issues for the review Defining metropolitan Perth Relationships between State and local government Roles, responsibilities, functions of local government Models for local government structure – –how many local governments? –A single council? Two tiers? Increasing community engagement – essential in any structure Issues around governance and elections elected members –role, training, remuneration,

Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel Key Dates and Contact Details Draft findings to be released for public comment 13 April 2012 Comment period to close 11 May 2012 Panel website: – metroreview.dlg.wa.gov.au Panel secretariat telephone: – (08)