Hornsby Shire Council Table of Contents
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Item 18 MM9/15 Council's Membership of Local Government NSW (LGNSW) and the Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC)................................................................ 1
Mayoral Minute No. MM9/15
Date of Meeting: 14/10/2015
18 COUNCIL'S MEMBERSHIP OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT NSW (LGNSW) AND THE NORTHERN SYDNEY REGIONAL ORGANISATION OF COUNCILS (NSROC)
From 11 to 13 October 2015, the majority of Councillors together with senior staff attended the annual Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Conference at Rosehill. The Conference brings together most councils in NSW with the aim of providing a forum for local councillors to share ideas and debate issues that shape the way we are governed.
At a cost of approximately $1,000 per delegate, Council makes a significant financial contribution to the Conference. In addition to Council’s financial costs, most Councillors are required to take annual leave from their place of employment and forego weekend and evening time with families to attend the event. One would expect that such a significant commitment would lead to measurable benefits to Council and the local government industry itself.
As in previous years, I was disappointed in the quality of debate and lack of meaningful outcomes emanating from the Conference motions and panel sessions. Rather than focusing on the most important reform package facing local government in generations, some delegates appeared to be more concerned with issues such as LGNSW’s standing orders, what constitutes a quorum for Conference voting and heckling speakers.
The Premier and the Minister for Local Government addressed the Conference again this year to update attendees on the local government reform process and to seek councils’ assistance in partnering with the NSW Government in making much needed changes to the structure and governance of the industry. Whilst both the Premier and the Minister should be congratulated for their commitment to the Conference, I am sure that they would share my disappointment in the reaction from many councils who refused to recognise and commit to the Government’s Fit for the Future initiatives which are aimed at significantly improving the strategic and financial capacity of local government.
Based on my experience at this and previous year’s LGNSW Conferences, I believe that it is now appropriate for Council to seriously consider a report about the value of continuing Council’s membership of LGNSW past the current membership period of 30 June 2016. Also, in line with my previous and current disenchantment with the performance of the Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC), I believe the report should also outline the reasons for and against Council continuing its membership of NSROC past the current membership period of 30 June 2016.
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THAT a report be prepared for Council’s consideration which details the reasons for and against Council maintaining its membership of Local Government NSW and the Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils following the expiry of the current membership periods. |
STEVE RUSSELL
Mayor
There are no attachments for this report.
File Reference: F2004/07180-02
Document Number: D06712653