It is proposed to advocate this together with a request to reconsider the onerous process involved in applying for a variation. 31 Environmental upgrade Environmental upgrade provisions This matter was not raised in the Directions Paper. This provision is supported subject to agreements enable strengthened in the new Act to The expansion of environmental upgrade agreements further consultation with the sector financing mechanisms to make clear benefits extend to the to include residential land is supported in principle. on the content of guidelines. help businesses access funding owners of residential land. The new provisions provide for the Minister for building works to improve administering the Energy Efficiency Target Act 2007, energy efficiency, reduce waste after consultation with the Minister for Local and cut water use. Government, to publish guidelines specifying the types of works to be funded by an environmental upgrade agreement. Part 6 - Council Operations # Existing Local Government New Local Government Draft Bill Commentary including position on the MAV Position MAV’s Act 1989 2018 Directions Paper 32 No specific service performance The Draft Bill introduces service The inclusion of service performance principles were No objection is offered to the principles or requirements. performance principles in not a specific recommendation in the Directions Paper. inclusion of service performance recognition that councils deliver Proposed direction 104 was to remove the current best principles while recognizing that over $7B in services each year. value principles. The new service performance financial imperatives may The Draft Bill requires councils to principles are not dissimilar to the best value principles. necessitate the removal or reduction take account of these principles, There is no objection to the inclusion of service in some services by councils. which will mandate equitable, performance principles in the new Act. It should be responsive, accessible, value noted that one of the principles is for a council to seek added service delivery for the local to continuously improve service delivery to the community. municipal community. The current financial constraints on councils may, in fact, lead to the removal or reduction of some services.
It is proposed to advocate this together with a request to reconsider the onerous process involved in applying for a variation. 31 Environmental upgrade agreements enable financing mechanisms to help businesses access funding for building works to improve energy efficiency, reduce waste and cut water use. Environmental upgrade provisions strengthened in the new Act to make clear benefits extend to the owners of residential land. This matter was not raised in the Directions Paper. The expansion of environmental upgrade agreements to include residential land is supported in principle. The new provisions provide for the Minister administering the Energy Efficiency Target Act 2007, after consultation with the Minister for Local Government, to publish guidelines specifying the types of works to be funded by an environmental upgrade agreement. This provision is supported subject to further consultation with the sector on the content of guidelines. Part 6 - Council Operations # Existing Local Government Act 1989 New Local Government Draft Bill 2018 Commentary including MAV’s position on the Directions Paper MAV Position 32 No specific service performance principles or requirements. The Draft Bill introduces service performance principles in recognition that councils deliver over $7B in services each year. The Draft Bill requires councils to take account of these principles, which will mandate equitable, responsive, accessible, value added service delivery for the local community. The inclusion of service performance principles were not a specific recommendation in the Directions Paper. Proposed direction 104 was to remove the current best value principles. The new service performance principles are not dissimilar to the best value principles. There is no objection to the inclusion of service performance principles in the new Act. It should be noted that one of the principles is for a council to seek to continuously improve service delivery to the municipal community. The current financial constraints on councils may, in fact, lead to the removal or reduction of some services. No objection is offered to the inclusion of service performance principles while recognizing that financial imperatives may necessitate the removal or reduction in some services by councils.
Submission-on-Local-Government-Bill-Exposure-Draft-Mar-2018.docx