and communities of interest. The new provisions will require the VEC to conduct representation reviews to arrive at new structures for those councils that do not have uniform multi-member wards or have a mix of multi-member and single member wards. 3 Mayors serve a one year term, Unchanged. A new provision will The submission opposed the proposal to elect The: MAV’s with an option for a second year enable the elected council to vote mayors for two-year terms. The exposure draft (noting the exceptions of the out a mayor mid-term if 75% of proposes to retain the provisions in the LGA 1989 retention of the election of a Cities of Melbourne and councillors agree. (councils have discretion to elect a mayor for either a mayor for a one or two year term Geelong). one or two year term). at the discretion of the council is supported. There is a new provision that will enable the elected council to vote out a mayor mid-term if 75% of provision to enable a council to councillors agree. This proposition was not raised in vote a mayor out of office during the Discussion Paper or in the Directions Paper and their term is opposed. has not been discussed by the sector (nor identified as an issue). This provision introduces the prospect of If the power to remove a mayor is to removing a mayor during their term of office and has be retained, the requirement to the potential to be destablising for a mayor and for a enable a motion to be placed before council (even if a motion to remove a mayor is the council should be the same as defeated). It is proposed that this proposal be the requirement for a successful vote opposed. majority of at least i.e. “a of all of the Councillors in If the power to remove a mayor is to be retained, the office”. requirement to enable a motion to be placed before the council should be the same as the requirement for a successful vote majority of at least three-quarters i.e. “a of all of the Councillors in office”.
and communities of interest. The new provisions will require the VEC to conduct representation reviews to arrive at new structures for those councils that do not have uniform multi-member wards or have a mix of multi-member and single member wards. 3 Mayors serve a one year term, with an option for a second year (noting the exceptions of the Cities of Melbourne and Geelong). Unchanged. A new provision will enable the elected council to vote out a mayor mid-term if 75% of councillors agree. The MAV’s submission opposed the proposal to elect mayors for two-year terms. The exposure draft proposes to retain the provisions in the LGA 1989 (councils have discretion to elect a mayor for either a one or two year term). There is a new provision that will enable the elected council to vote out a mayor mid-term if 75% of councillors agree. This proposition was not raised in the Discussion Paper or in the Directions Paper and has not been discussed by the sector (nor identified as an issue). This provision introduces the prospect of removing a mayor during their term of office and has the potential to be destablising for a mayor and for a council (even if a motion to remove a mayor is defeated). It is proposed that this proposal be opposed. If the power to remove a mayor is to be retained, the requirement to enable a motion to be placed before the council should be the same as the requirement for a successful vote i.e. “a majority of at least three-quarters of all of the Councillors in office”. The: retention of the election of a mayor for a one or two year term at the discretion of the council is supported. provision to enable a council to vote a mayor out of office during their term is opposed. If the power to remove a mayor is to be retained, the requirement to enable a motion to be placed before the council should be the same as the requirement for a successful vote i.e. “a majority of at least of all of the Councillors in office”.
Submission-on-Local-Government-Bill-Exposure-Draft-Mar-2018.docx