The Future of Local Government

2014 Summit

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...

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

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)

Now, LG is at the crossroadsThe 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

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

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

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?)

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)

Transformers

Transforming into

Society • Networks of networks Now

Transforming into

Society

Citizens

• Networks of networks Now

• Networks Now Local

Transforming into

• Society

• Citizens

• Government

• Networks of networks Now

• Networks Now Local

• Move from silos to citizen-centric ‘joined up’ government (seamless)

Transforming into

• Society

• 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

11%

57%

30%

2%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Partly

4. Unsure

destiny at the moment?Is local government in control of its own

77%

5%

14%

4%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Partly

4. Unsure

control of its own destiny? Can local government do more to be in

7%

82%

11%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Unsure

demonstrate it is efficient and effective?Is local government doing all it can to

79%

5%

16%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Unsure

improve local government performance?Would increased regional collaboration

67%

4%

25%

4%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Partly

4. Unsure

change in the next 5 to 10 years?Does Local government require transformational

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

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?

Hmmm….so, what can we do?

LG has a fundamental choice1. Business as Usual (= road to intervention)OR2. Councils of the Future: plan to transform LG

service delivery with a new business model based on collaboration and innovation

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

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

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….

Example Application Map 2008 Internet

Harmony(Family Day

Care)

Valuation Database

AutoCAD(CAD)

MYOB

Titan Security(BuildingAccess)

Loan Register

Phone Extension

Listing

Fire Infringement

Notices

Disability Parking

Coach Tours

Car Parking Appraisals

Key Register

Food Stall Permits

Emergency Response Register

Building Maintenance

Risk Register

Who’s In

Waste Management

WorksPermits

Sextants Register

(Yea Cemetery)

Stems Septic Tank Database

Roadside Mapping &

Species

Moloney Asset Management

Planning Permits &

Compliance

Planning Permit Conditions Monitoring

Routine Maintenance

Rubbish Bins

GravelRe-Sheeting

ProgramKey Register

Roads to Recovery

Road Register

Bridge Inspection

System

Extra Works Major Bridge

Works

Linemarking Pavement

Renewal Program

Drainage Renewals & Upgrades

Footpath & Kerb Renewal

Programs

Sundry Debtors

Fuel Usage

Footpath Inspections

Playground Inspections

Staff Training

Approved Sub Contractor Register

Works Schedules

Open Space Register

Financial Statements

Loan Repayments

Home Maintenance

Model Accounts

Lease Register

FringeBenefits

Investments Register

Wages Budgeting

Greenhouse Gas

Calculations

Terminations

Trust Register

Maternity Leave

Calculations

Back Pay Calculations

Payroll Spreadsheets

Work CoverSuperannuation

Rate Certificate Register

Septic Tank Register

Infromax(Building

Maintenance)

Septic Tanks

IRIS(Maternity & Child

Healthcare)

Crystal Reports

Image Library(Mapped

Drive)

Vision Super(Superannuation)

External Org.

ATO

External Org.

Manual Exportfrom Payroll

Corporate System

Accounts Receivable

Records Register

Building Control

Payroll

Property Management

System

Rating

Accounts Payable

Statutory Planning

Financials

Harmony(KL Early

Learning Centre)

Sharikat Khoo(Home &

Community Care)

BIS(Mgt. Reporting & Budgeting)

Animal Control

I-Services(CRM)

Health Admin.

§ Planning§ Building Control§ Animal Control§ Health§ Rates & Property§ Asset Register§ Names & Addresses§ CRM

Employee Kiosk &

Online Leave

Contract Register

Manual File Upload toProperty & Rating

Sesame(Valuations)External App.

Mobile Phone Usage

Land Line Usage

ManualExport / Import

ManualExport / Import

Manual File Transfer

BRSS Telstra Electronic Billing

External App.

Manual Exportfrom Payroll

Asset Register

Trust Register

Bank Reconciliation

Receipting

Estimates

Inventory Control

Hazard & Injury Register

Committees of Management

Certificates

Plant

Bank(Bank Online)

External Org.

Playgrounds

Trees

Bridges

Toilets

Manual LayerUpdate Nightly

Storm Water Data

MapInfo / Easimaps

(GIS)

State Government(Map Data)External Org.

Scheme Amendments

Asset System

Road Asyst(Road

Maintenance)Capital Editor

Footpaths GIS

Manual File Transfer

Manual File Transfer

Credit Cards

Monthly ManualUpload

WebFleet(Fleet

Management)

Australian Child Immunisation

Register

Internet(WebComm

Hosted Externally)

Business Directory

Community Directory

Secure Pay

Intranet(WebComm

Hosted Internally)

EventsBooking Calendar

…………BUT not addressing local community priorities

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

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?)

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

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

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

Big cultural shifts

Now • 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

Future• 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

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

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