❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding local government compliance with Strategic Community and Corporate Business Plans, including compliance rates, penalties, financial assistance, and consultation with relevant bodies. The answer provides details on the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework, compliance deadlines, support provided, and ongoing engagement with stakeholders.
AnsweredQoN 7654Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
In relation to the Strategic Community Plan and the Corporate Business Plan requirements the Minister announced on 8 July 2011, under sections 55 and 56 of the
Local Government Act 1995
, I ask:
(a) which local governments have already complied with both Plans;
(b) will every Council have to comply and if so, by what date;
(c) what penalties will the Minister impose for non-compliance;
(d) what financial or other assistance has the Minister provided to enable Councils to undertake this rigorous professional planning; and
(e) what advice has the Minister received from Western Australian Local Government Association, Local Government Managers Australia and any Councils regarding problems and burdens associated with these requirements, and will the Minister table that advice, and if not, why not?
Local Government Act 1995
, I ask:
(a) which local governments have already complied with both Plans;
(b) will every Council have to comply and if so, by what date;
(c) what penalties will the Minister impose for non-compliance;
(d) what financial or other assistance has the Minister provided to enable Councils to undertake this rigorous professional planning; and
(e) what advice has the Minister received from Western Australian Local Government Association, Local Government Managers Australia and any Councils regarding problems and burdens associated with these requirements, and will the Minister table that advice, and if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 May 2012
Responded by
Minister for Local Government
Response time
34 days
(a) and (b)
The State Government has developed an Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework (IPR) with the aim of improving the capability of local governments in fulfilling their responsibilities to their communities.
Regulatory requirements commence from 1 July 2013.
All local governments are required to meet all four baseline levels of performance in the areas of Strategic Community Planning, Financial Planning, Workforce Planning and Asset Management by 1 July 2013.
Data was collected from local governments in July 2011 and the results were reported in the Department's
Annual Report
2011: 4 per cent of local governments met all four baseline levels; a further 6.4 per cent met three; 27.9 per cent met two and 53.6 per cent met one.
(c)
The Department of Local Government has a risk-based compliance audit framework, enabling identification of local governments where there are difficulties or non-compliance. The treatment by the Department of non-compliance will be determined according to this framework.
(d)
Capacity building funds have been granted to local governments participating in structurally reforming groups. Grants have also been made to individual local governments supportive of reform but impeded from progressing due to a lack of suitable local partnerships.
To date, the Government has invested a total of $7.8 million in capacity building grants to
70 local governments:
$2.4 million to assist in the development of long term strategic plans;
$3.7 million to assist in the development of asset management plans; and
$1.7 million to assist in the development of long term financial plans.
A further $378,000 has been invested in the following initiatives:
Integrated Planning Master Classes for senior staff and elected members run by Local Government Managers Australia (WA Division) (LGMA) and the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA);
Frameworks and Guidelines development - IPR Framework and Guidelines, Asset Management, Long Term Financial Planning, Advisory Standard for IPR;
Development of a dedicated IPR website; and
Development of an online education tool on integrated planning and reporting.
(e)
Comment and input was provided by both WALGA and LGMA on IPR requirements during the drafting process. This related to the level of prescription and compliance in the regulations, also to the timeline for the progress of the legislation.
Questions raised by attendees during the 16 Master Classes provided to assist local governments with the implementation of IPR covered a range of matters such as the standard or level of community engagement required, compliance expectations, integration of plans through the Corporate Plan and the engagement of elected members in the IPR process. In relation to the latter, the Department was assisted by WALGA in the delivery of a workshop for elected members.
Other concerns raised have related mainly to the availability of funding, this not being available to local governments not actively engaged in or supportive of reform.
My Department of Local Government and I continue to closely engage with WALGA and LGMA regarding the implementation of integrated planning in the sector and there is ongoing engagement between Departmental officers and local governments. The Department has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions, which is available on the Department's dedicated Integrated Planning website.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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The State Government has developed an Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework (IPR) with the aim of improving the capability of local governments in fulfilling their responsibilities to their communities.
Regulatory requirements commence from 1 July 2013.
All local governments are required to meet all four baseline levels of performance in the areas of Strategic Community Planning, Financial Planning, Workforce Planning and Asset Management by 1 July 2013.
Data was collected from local governments in July 2011 and the results were reported in the Department's
Annual Report
2011: 4 per cent of local governments met all four baseline levels; a further 6.4 per cent met three; 27.9 per cent met two and 53.6 per cent met one.
(c)
The Department of Local Government has a risk-based compliance audit framework, enabling identification of local governments where there are difficulties or non-compliance. The treatment by the Department of non-compliance will be determined according to this framework.
(d)
Capacity building funds have been granted to local governments participating in structurally reforming groups. Grants have also been made to individual local governments supportive of reform but impeded from progressing due to a lack of suitable local partnerships.
To date, the Government has invested a total of $7.8 million in capacity building grants to
70 local governments:
$2.4 million to assist in the development of long term strategic plans;
$3.7 million to assist in the development of asset management plans; and
$1.7 million to assist in the development of long term financial plans.
A further $378,000 has been invested in the following initiatives:
Integrated Planning Master Classes for senior staff and elected members run by Local Government Managers Australia (WA Division) (LGMA) and the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA);
Frameworks and Guidelines development - IPR Framework and Guidelines, Asset Management, Long Term Financial Planning, Advisory Standard for IPR;
Development of a dedicated IPR website; and
Development of an online education tool on integrated planning and reporting.
(e)
Comment and input was provided by both WALGA and LGMA on IPR requirements during the drafting process. This related to the level of prescription and compliance in the regulations, also to the timeline for the progress of the legislation.
Questions raised by attendees during the 16 Master Classes provided to assist local governments with the implementation of IPR covered a range of matters such as the standard or level of community engagement required, compliance expectations, integration of plans through the Corporate Plan and the engagement of elected members in the IPR process. In relation to the latter, the Department was assisted by WALGA in the delivery of a workshop for elected members.
Other concerns raised have related mainly to the availability of funding, this not being available to local governments not actively engaged in or supportive of reform.
My Department of Local Government and I continue to closely engage with WALGA and LGMA regarding the implementation of integrated planning in the sector and there is ongoing engagement between Departmental officers and local governments. The Department has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions, which is available on the Department's dedicated Integrated Planning website.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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