These council elections have seen a massive changing of the guard. Not all change is bad. In order for the sector to improve, here is what we suggest newly elected Councillors do as a priority.
7 things any NEW councillor must do:
Abolish Citizens panels and consultative committees immediately - they are but a confected proxy for officers anyway.
Scrap all meals and expensive catering from Council meetings (if relevant).
Change governance rules to permit open questions in council meetings from the public and Publish ALL meeting minutes (every committee, every delegated body, every informal meeting) and notes.
Pass a motion to ban any external paid consultant over $100k - unless approved by council resolution.
Set NEW CEO and Senior Management KPI's - clear PUBLIC KPI's to improve service delivery and community satisfaction, or no pay increases.
Lower the CEO spending delegation limit by 50%
Ensure that all Senior employee expenses are reviewed and approved PUBLICY by the Councillor group, not the CEO.
These moves create a CLEAR changing of the guard, they show the community what accountability looks like. They are not disruptive. Instead, they reset the focus of Council.
We need Councils run professionally based on Quality services, excellent service delivery, outstanding customer service, good dispute resolution processes, and responsiveness.
Less Bureaucracy & Less Bullshit is the key.
It's not about "feelings" and "motherhood statements" - it's about getting on with whipping the organisation into shape so that it is capable of delivering.
There is more to do - a lot more, that will take time.
These should be the priorities of a new Council, shedding the sins of the past (whatever they are in your council).
The very next thing should be a role and productivity review of the organisation. Good discussion around what the councils ROLE is and is not, then alignment with the 4-year Council plan, and appropriate staffing resources.
The golden age of consultants with the snout in the trough - should be the first CUT to every Council. Councils pay staff well, their job is to "do the job", not outsource it to "ideological thinkers" who have no skin in the local game.
The only people Councils should be consulting are locals.
All of this is a reminder to the administration - who they work for.
YOU
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my name is Tiffy I'm totally blind and hearing-impaired, but what I'd like to know is why can't we donate a custom amount as opposed to a default amount to the website so you can improve your content? Not everyone can afford from $25 up to $200 for example! Back to the councils! Because I am totally blind and hearing-impaired I live on my own and I don't have a lot of support I have to pay for that support privately, I want to know who the counsellor is for the city of Whittlesea? I like everyone else voted for the choice of counsellor, but no one gets told who went in and what they will be doing for u…
Ban councils from political involvement and advertising, ban councils from climate change policies, get rid of all DEI staff and employ people on ability and experience. Enforce the compulsory flying of the Australian flag at council offices and on council webpages.
Enforce open council meetings and all regulations/laws to be reevaluated by the public.
Keep to local basic core business for all constituents. We need to get costs under control before spending on nonproducing minority group wants.
Stick to local requirements, abandon climate change policy, state, federal and overseas involvement. A local council WILL NOT change world issues, stay out of it. Stick to your core business. Cut spending and be accountable for what you do spend.
Abandon all policy on climate change abatement and stick to core council business only.