1. The Future of Local Government
2014 Summit

2. 10 Years of FOLG (LG continues to do great things, very innovative)
FOLG: what has been achieved?
Talk, inspiration and ?
This is not easy and it needs leadership
4 year Council plans = business as usual
But , there is hope! Champions are emerging
So, a decision has been taken...

3. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead
Assume we are that small group

4. FOLG background LG is the most complex service business on earth: 150
LG is too busy reacting and regulating to be strategic, so other levels of Govt. make all the big decisions (BAU)

5. Now, LG is at the crossroads
The perfect storm or the perfect opportunity?
LG has always been, and is, the ‘poor relation’ of the public sector. Almost an afterthought.
Many Councils have real issues re financial sustainability: struggling to deliver, skills loss
2 speed LG economy (rich and poor)
Councils are still doing things ‘their own way’ = duplication and waste
turbulent change as we rush towards the Digital Society and Digital Government with an ageing population
the public sector pursues reform: do more with less
more change in the next 5-10 years than in the last 30 years

6. The perfect storm
Increasing complexity: governments can’t solve major problems anymore:
Eg. climate change, obesity: need collaborative stakeholder commitment on many fronts
Open government: State departments don’t like to share information
Citizens are demanding to be involved in decision-making, to have influence
by 2020 millenials will form ~50% of the workforce

7. The internet of everything
1990s-2000: ‘the internet will change everything’
As if!
Well, it has and we ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
Almost every organisation is re-thinking their business model and transforming service delivery strategies (which cloud?)
World is transforming into a networked, collaborative society
Next 5-10 years: the Internet of Everything
Network of networks
Linking people, processes, data and things
Gov 2.0: putting government in the hands of citizens with infrastructure platforms, open data
Will redefine government: community-based leadership emerging
Does LG have a game plan? Is it in any plan? Is this a threat or an opportunity

8. The Future of public services
Existing public services are fragmented: do not address local needs
19th century Government/Council silos will be replaced by collaborative, joined-up government in the cloud: better connecting people and services
We are experiencing a sea-change in the way people expect to interact with service providers
Commonwealth and State Govts are planning for Digital Government but LG needs to be included in ‘whole of government’ planning
What about LG?
We need a game plan: we need to be at the table
They should be saying: ‘we can’t do it without LG’
What are they saying? ‘We’re planning our system: we’ll may give you a pipe’= opportunity for LG to lead (or be the dinosaur facing?)

9. The role of government in the Digital Society of 2025
Key issue: How can governments make use of all the people, with all the information and knowledge available to them, with a few mouse clicks?
Answer:
Open up. Government as a platform. Provide a platform for users to add value. Let users innovate and add value. Put citizens/communities at the heart of everything: identify and meet their needs (LG wins through knowledge)

10. Transformers

11. Transforming into
Society
Networks of networks Now

12. Transforming into Society Networks of networks Now Citizens
Networks Now Local

13. Transforming into Society Networks of networks Now Citizens
Government
Networks of networks Now
Networks Now Local
Move from silos to citizen-centric ‘joined up’ government (seamless)

14. Transforming into Society Networks of networks Now Citizens
Government
Local Govt.
Networks of networks Now
Networks Now Local
Move from silos to citizen-centric ‘joined up’ government (seamless)
Facilitates/brokers local outcomes
Source of most public sector info’
Leader or lagger?
Councils of the Future ‘plan the plan’
Major change management challenge

20. LG current
Communities/citizens expectations are rising rapidly (24x7 and NOW and co-design) - but disengaged communities
Most Councils can’t fund their infrastructure backlog
Most Councils struggling to deliver services
Councils continue to do things 560/79 times: duplication
Commonwealth funding for LG is reducing
Most Councils can’t scale the ‘Digital Divide’
Individual Councils don’t have the resources to leverage the benefits of technology
Councils are rapidly losing skills and knowledge
Councils continue to expand the scope of their services

21. The challenge is to respond ahead of the curve
If local government don’t respond other levels of government will –and hasn’t that always been the issue?

22. Hmmm….so, what can we do? LG has a fundamental choice
Business as Usual (= road to intervention) OR
Councils of the Future: plan to transform LG service delivery with a new business model based on collaboration and innovation

23. Choice LG takes control of its own destiny OR
Waits for intervention (others will decide)
In the new world order, the winner is Knowledge, Planning, Innovation, Collaboration

24. Here’s the thing
State and Federal Governments are planning for Digital Government (Victoria: 1 ‘pipe’ for LG)
When LG does nothing, others will decide. LG will then
complain
react
report
shave costs, fine tune
BUT, when LG leads, others follow

25. Here’s the thing We know what the future looks like
The internet is changing everything
We ARE moving to a ‘networked’ society & and ‘networked’ Government
Everything will be connected: the internet of everything
Online channels/one stop shops
One consistent answer for citizens, no matter where they go to ask their question
Note: most public sector information is sourced from local government but….

28. Duplication & waste & confusion
Councils applying for ‘silo’ grants (hundreds pa)
Councils responding to hundreds of requests for information pa (x 100+ functions)
Standalone systems all over Council (not integrated): Mrs Brown’s husband dies/ I can’t find /…..
No network planning for infrastructure
LG systems not linked to State and Federal systems: no tracking

29. Is LG up for the challenge?
We know what the future looks like
We know what to do
We just need to get ourselves organised and do it
Leadership required (from who?)

30. LG inspiration: going for it…..leading
UK Local Government Association:
2005 vision for LG: independent, self-governing communities (LG playing brokering role)
2013:Rewiring Public Services
FutureGov: transformative projects
Martin Gaffer, CEO, CityTown Council (UK)
NYC Digital Roadmap & Reinvent NYC.Gov (Cloud first)
2013: South Australian LGA Expert Panel: ‘Strengthening SA Communities in a Changing World’
2013: Canada’s Public Policy Forum: Flat, Flexible and Forward Thinking: Public Service Next
Australia: GovCloud, Swift, Patchwork, WBC Alliance

31. Next steps Lighthouse projects (happening)
A local government ‘cloud’ platform (happening)
Councils of the Future agree to ‘plan for the plan’
Plenty of roundtables to establish agreed data standards, frameworks
And a bit less of the mouse

32. Road to Digital Government
Starting point
Cloud platform (eg. GovCloud)
Don’t build a dead end cloud
Needs to be open and contestable
Consistent data frameworks
Tim Berners Lee: open linked data for a global community
Examples:
Roads: regional planning and priorities on network basis
Starting point: consistent data frameworks

33. Big cultural shifts Now Future Council knows best
Each Council does its own thing: standalone systems
We need to reform LG
Local Government is not local any more
Collaboration means loss of identity
Citizen can add value
LG cloud environment: no in-house syetems
LG is leading
LG can address individual citizen’s needs
Collaboration is the key to independent Cou

34. Counter-intuitive The more Councils collaborate
The more capable they become
The more they can do to meet the needs of their communities and citizens
The more they will retain their independence and identity

35. Next steps LG Strategic Planning Group (nominations open)
Plan the Plan
Councils of the Future (self nominated)
Review the Plan
Implement stage 1
Identify ‘The Better Way’ for the public sector:
Reform: funding, structure and strategy changes
advocate and lobby