❓ Question regarding the Department of Local Government's review of council planning and reporting plans, resource allocation, and compliance with the Local Government Act. The Minister's response indicates a change in review cycle and clarifies the interpretation of compliance data.
AnsweredQoN 4347Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural
Industries 2017-18 Annual Report and the statement that only 38 per cent of councils
had planning and reporting plans reviewed despite a target of 100 per cent, and
ask: (a) is the low number of reviews due to resourcing
impacts following Machinery of Government changes as stated in the report; (b) have any local governments expressed concern to the department that their planning and reporting plans weren't reviewed: (i) if yes, please list the local governments; (c) what is the Minister and/or his department doing to rectify the problem of insufficient resources in the review area: (i) please list the measures; and (d) considering the report stated 71 per cent of local governments had action taken against them for non-compliance in 2017-18 are there sufficient resources in the department to ensure councils are operating correctly under the Local Government Act 1995 and its regulations: (i) if yes, how?
Industries 2017-18 Annual Report and the statement that only 38 per cent of councils
had planning and reporting plans reviewed despite a target of 100 per cent, and
ask: (a) is the low number of reviews due to resourcing
impacts following Machinery of Government changes as stated in the report; (b) have any local governments expressed concern to the department that their planning and reporting plans weren't reviewed: (i) if yes, please list the local governments; (c) what is the Minister and/or his department doing to rectify the problem of insufficient resources in the review area: (i) please list the measures; and (d) considering the report stated 71 per cent of local governments had action taken against them for non-compliance in 2017-18 are there sufficient resources in the department to ensure councils are operating correctly under the Local Government Act 1995 and its regulations: (i) if yes, how?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 February 2019
Responded by
Minister for Local Government
Response time
12 days
(a) The Department made a decision to move the cycle of reviewing each local government’s Strategic Community Plan and Corporate Business Plan once every four years. This change is reflected in the budget papers for 2018-19. A four year review cycle is better aligned with the requirement for local government to conduct a review of their strategic Community Plan at least once every four years. Also, previous departmental reviews have found a high level of compliance with legislative requirements.
(b) No.
(i) Not applicable.
(c) See (a)
(i) Not applicable.
(d) The effectiveness indicator referred to in this question measures actions taken, not instances of non-compliance. The Department’s Annual Report clearly states that “these figures reflect actions taken to respond to possible non-compliance – they do not reflect the number of matters about which concerns were substantiated and/or remedial action required”.
(i) Not applicable
(b) No.
(i) Not applicable.
(c) See (a)
(i) Not applicable.
(d) The effectiveness indicator referred to in this question measures actions taken, not instances of non-compliance. The Department’s Annual Report clearly states that “these figures reflect actions taken to respond to possible non-compliance – they do not reflect the number of matters about which concerns were substantiated and/or remedial action required”.
(i) Not applicable
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