A follow up performance audit in 2012, Performance Reporting by Local Government, found that although councils produce large volumes of information for internal and external audiences, this reporting often lacked information about the timeliness, cost, quantity or quality of council services, and therefore did not adequately position councils to overcome performance challenges. VAGO provided a summary of audits that had identified shortcomings in local government performance (see Figure 2B). The recurring nature of the performance issues identified shows there are an ongoing impediment to councils’ ability to fulfill their statutory obligations. VAGO found that overcoming these challenges is therefore an urgent priority for the local government sector. Figure 2B Recurring performance issues for councils Theme Summary VAGO Audits Ineffective Inadequate links between corporate Management of by Local planning and plans, asset management plans and Councils (2002) budgeting budget processes Inadequate funding models resulting from poor forward planning Lack of rigour in developing Business Continuity business continuity plans Management in Local Government (2010) Inability to demonstrate that fees Fees and Charges: Cost and charges reflect best value Recovery by Local principles Government (2010) Inadequate asset management Business Planning for Major plans, compromising effective Capital Works and Recurrent management of $1.6 billion in assets Services in Local Government Lack of long-term strategic plans (2011) underpinning financial plans Inadequate Inadequate policies for the Management of Roads by adherence to management of road assets Local Government (2002) policies and A lack of policies governing the Enforcement of Planning procedures enforcement of planning permits, Permits (2008) leading to a lack of assurance that permits are compliant Inadequate assurance probity Tendering and Contracting in standards had been applied and that Government (2010) conflict of interests were avoided Limited and reactive practices for Compliance With Building monitoring and reporting on Permits (2011) compliance with building permits Weaknesses in Inadequate reporting preventing Management of Roads by accountability, ratepayers from understanding Local Government (2002) oversight and whether road management is monitoring efficient and effective Inadequate internal reporting Use of Development preventing understanding of Contributions by whether all development Government (2009) contributions are being collected Insufficient oversight over Tendering and Contracting in application of probity standards, and Local Government (2010) inadequate systems for monitoring aggregate payments
A follow up performance audit in 2012, Performance Reporting by Local Government, found that although councils produce large volumes of information for internal and external audiences, this reporting often lacked information about the timeliness, cost, quantity or quality of council services, and therefore did not adequately position councils to overcome performance challenges. VAGO provided a summary of audits that had identified shortcomings in local government performance (see Figure 2B). The recurring nature of the performance issues identified shows there are an ongoing impediment to councils’ ability to fulfill their statutory obligations. VAGO found that overcoming these challenges is therefore an urgent priority for the local government sector. Figure 2B Recurring performance issues for councils Theme Summary VAGO Audits Ineffective planning and budgeting Inadequate links between corporate plans, asset management plans and budget processes Inadequate funding models resulting from poor forward planning Management of by Local Councils (2002) Lack of rigour in developing business continuity plans Business Continuity Management in Local Government (2010) Inability to demonstrate that fees and charges reflect best value principles Fees and Charges: Cost Recovery by Local Government (2010) Inadequate asset management plans, compromising effective management of $1.6 billion in assets Lack of long-term strategic plans underpinning financial plans Business Planning for Major Capital Works and Recurrent Services in Local Government (2011) Inadequate adherence to policies and procedures Inadequate policies for the management of road assets Management of Roads by Local Government (2002) A lack of policies governing the enforcement of planning permits, leading to a lack of assurance that permits are compliant Enforcement of Planning Permits (2008) Inadequate assurance probity standards had been applied and that conflict of interests were avoided Tendering and Contracting in Government (2010) Limited and reactive practices for monitoring and reporting on compliance with building permits Compliance With Building Permits (2011) Weaknesses in accountability, oversight and monitoring Inadequate reporting preventing ratepayers from understanding whether road management is efficient and effective Management of Roads by Local Government (2002) Inadequate internal reporting preventing understanding of whether all development contributions are being collected Use of Development Contributions by Government (2009) Insufficient oversight over application of probity standards, and inadequate systems for monitoring aggregate payments Tendering and Contracting in Local Government (2010)
RIS-Local-Government-Planning-and-Reporting-Regulations-2014.docx