Councils Transformation Program Program Summary Program Timelines What is the Rural Councils Transformation Applications by council groups will be subject to Program? assessment against the Program criteria and councils The $20 million Rural Council Transformation Program will be offered additional support within the RCTP to (RCTP) funded in the 2018-19 State Budget aims to develop a project business case. support large scale proposals by rural and regional Key milestones: councils to transform existing council functions. This will help improve the financial sustainability of councils RCTP Expressions of Interest period commences on which would not otherwise be able to invest in these 14 August 2018 with the release of Program large-scale transformations. guidelines and accompanying information by the Minister for Local Government. The RCTP is designed to seed fund transformative projects requiring approximately $2 million to $5 million Regional information sessions for and regional in funding and comprising three or more rural or regional councils across Victoria (see communication and councils. engagement below). Potential funded projects could include shared Expressions of Interest proposals for RCTP funding engineering and building services, corporatising fleet close on 15 November 2018. Applications must management, asset management for multiple rural include a commitment from the applicant councils’ councils, and / or combining the back office corporate CEOs in the form of a Memorandum of functions of finance, human resources, IT, procurement Understanding. and payroll. Final applications, including a detailed business Activities to be considered for funding under the RCTP case close on 31 March 2019. Council resolutions include but are not limited to: of commitment from each participating council must accompany the application. Establishment of governance arrangements Assessment of applications from April-May 2019. Digital transformation, harmonisation or system development Final project funding allocation decisions and announcements in May 2019. IT hardware and software both new and upgrades – Staffing management and administration – Communication & Engagement Related consultancy advice legal and finance – The transformative requirements of RCTP proposals, coupled with a single year budget allocation in 2018/19, Buildings (leased only) and fixtures and furniture – require supporting communication and engagement. leased and Local Government Victoria (LGV) has information Vehicles and office equipment. sessions in rural and regional locations for councils and
Councils Transformation Program Program Summary What is the Rural Councils Transformation Program? The $20 million Rural Council Transformation Program (RCTP) funded in the 2018-19 State Budget aims to support large scale proposals by rural and regional councils to transform existing council functions. This will help improve the financial sustainability of councils which would not otherwise be able to invest in these large-scale transformations. The RCTP is designed to seed fund transformative projects requiring approximately $2 million to $5 million in funding and comprising three or more rural or regional councils. Potential funded projects could include shared engineering and building services, corporatising fleet management, asset management for multiple rural councils, and / or combining the back office corporate functions of finance, human resources, IT, procurement and payroll. Activities to be considered for funding under the RCTP include but are not limited to: Establishment of governance arrangements Digital transformation, harmonisation or system development IT hardware and software – both new and upgrades Staffing – management and administration Related consultancy advice – legal and finance Buildings (leased only) and fixtures and furniture – leased and Vehicles and office equipment. Program Timelines Applications by council groups will be subject to assessment against the Program criteria and councils will be offered additional support within the RCTP to develop a project business case. Key milestones: RCTP Expressions of Interest period commences on 14 August 2018 with the release of Program guidelines and accompanying information by the Minister for Local Government. Regional information sessions for and regional councils across Victoria (see communication and engagement below). Expressions of Interest proposals for RCTP funding close on 15 November 2018. Applications must include a commitment from the applicant councils’ CEOs in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding. Final applications, including a detailed business case close on 31 March 2019. Council resolutions of commitment from each participating council must accompany the application. Assessment of applications from April-May 2019. Final project funding allocation decisions and announcements in May 2019. Communication & Engagement The transformative requirements of RCTP proposals, coupled with a single year budget allocation in 2018/19, require supporting communication and engagement. Local Government Victoria (LGV) has information sessions in rural and regional locations for councils and
Rural-Councils-Transformation-Program-Summary.docx