Ratepayers’ Strategy Plan

14 November 2015 Launch

Ratepayers VictoriaIncorporated A0040924Mwww.ratepayersvictoria.com.au

Accountable To No One

Ratepayers’ Social Action

SWATTeams

C.A.T.Issues

CapacityBuilding

DigitalPlatform SWAT

Projects

Same Game to New Game

The Local GovernmentPlaying Field

What & How to Change?

Why Change?

Get Involved

Ratepayers’ Strategies

The Australian Constitution:

2 levels of government in the country

Federal Government

State & Territory Governments

Each State Constitution

delegates

councils to look after the peace, order and good government of

their municipal districts

The Playing Field:

Legal Standing of Local Government (LG)

The Victorian Constitution

Vic Local Government Actthat provides the rules for the

CREATION & OPERATIONof 79 Councils

The Playing Field:

Legal Standing of the Victorian Local Government

Elected Councillors

Council Administration

ServiceManagement

Oversee

Councils are accountable to:

1. Their local communities

2. The Minister of Local Govt

NOT to themselves as is NOW

The Playing Field:

State Government’s Responsibilities

The Playing Field:

Local Government’s ResponsibilitiesState ServicesSchoolsHospitalsRoads & RailwaysPublic TransportUtilitiesMining & AgricultureForestsCommunity ServicesConsumer AffairsPolicePrisonsAmbulance services

Council Services

IncreasingScope creep

New Services& Service MgtGaps

79 Councils

The Playing Field:

Where Councils Get their Money?

Australian (Federal)Government Victorian Grants

Commission

Ratepayers(Property Owners)

Service Users

Financial Assistance

Federal Grants

StateGrants

Rates

FeesFines

The Playing Field:

Timely & Most Needed Reforms Coming

Reform #1LG Performance

Reporting Framework

Last State Government

KPIs

Councillor conduct reforms

Reform #2

Differential RatesReform #3

This State Government

1. Rates Capping Policy

2. Stronger Councillor Conduct Standards

3. Review of LG Act and other Associated Laws

Why Change:

Why the Reforms?Last State Government

Reform #1LG Performance

Reporting Framework

KPIs

Councillor conduct reforms

Reform #2

Differential RatesReform #3

Lacking Accountability Measures

Many Poor Leadership Behaviour Problems

Poor compliance to Taxation Principles in differentiating Rates

Systematic Problems

Why Change:

More on Why the Reforms?

1. Rates Capping Policy

2. Stronger Councillor Conduct Standards

3. Review of LG Act and other Associated Laws

This State GovernmentReforms Plan

Rates Increasing too HIGHOperating Inefficiencies

Too many poor leadership behaviour Problems

• Unclear interpretations• Too many ad hoc changes,• Lacking strong compliance

Systematic Problems

in

Why Change: Ratepayers ‘s Problems with Councils

Collaboration issues

Accountability issues

Transparency issues

& Implementation

Why Change:

More Ratepayers ‘s Problems with CouncilsCEO over CouncillorsCouncillors over CEOCouncillors over CouncillorsCouncillors over staffCouncillors over ratepayersCouncillors over State Gov

Lacking org skills, Groupthink leaders

Election Rigging / Vote Fraud

Personal & Party Politics Priorities over Community’s Needs & Interests

Conduct(Behavioural Issues)

Why Change:

Time for Ratepayers’ Action

Checking on their Councils’ Conduct, Decision-making & Actions are compliant to Good

Governance principles

Ratepayers Social Action

What & How to Change

"Every council is responsive to, and reflective of, their local community"

What & How to Change

Ratepayers Advocacy Capacity Building Strategy

Ratepayers groups & individuals coming together to:

1. Share common processes & tools

2. Monitor via capturing evidence of councils’ performance

3. Report misconduct, poor decision C.A.T. from evidence

Increase self collaboration

Increase system AccountabilityIncrease system Transparency

What & How to Change?

Stronger Strategic Ratepayers’ Roles

Ratepayers’ Digital Platform

Councils’ Good Governance & Performance

Common Processes Common Tools

Connected & Empowered Ratepayers

Monitoring

Reporting

Get Involved:

Ratepayers Actioning Now

Alert:1. New & growing issues2. Policy non compliances

Measure :1. Good Governance dimensions2. Policy compliance3. Key Performance Areas

Governance Oversight Capacity Building

Strategic partners

Annual Good Governance

Survey

Achievements to Date

Get Involved

Seminar Breakout to SWAT TeamsDuring Seminar: Identify

1. Service issues

2. Good governance gaps

3. Solution strategies, including using LG Act Review

Post Seminar

5. Respond to LG Act Review

6. Form SWAT Teams

7. Plan & Develop SWAT projects