Regional Governance Framework There is a long history of regional collaboration in local government in South Australia, with many existing formal and informal structures in place for councils to work collaboratively and provide shared services. Formal bodies established under the Local Government Act’s regional subsidiary provisions currently undertake a broad range of functions and services. Examples include representation and advocacy, waste collection and disposal, collective purchasing and regulatory functions. Councils can also achieve collaboration without the need for a formal governance structure. There are numerous examples of Councils working together on a temporary or ongoing basis to plan for and progress important issues such as stormwater management, public health, land use planning, economic development and climate change As identified in the report, local government in South Australia faces a number of demographic, financial, political and environmental challenges in the years ahead. These challenges will inevitably place additional pressure on councils to expand their service offering and become more innovative and contemporary in their business practices. The Panel considered that strengthening regional collaboration and partnerships is an important and necessary response to present and future challenges. The local government sector has been giving serious consideration to the Panel’s recommendations and the LGA has provided funding and technical support to four pilot projects that are exploring opportunities for regional collaboration partnerships. These investigations have confirmed the appetite and potential for regional structures to undertake a broad range of functions. It is evident that a size fits all’ solution to regional governance will not satisfy the diverse ‘one objectives of different councils and regions. Rather, local government requires a broader suite of flexible governance options that can be tailored to the needs of different regions, councils and communities. This draft Regional Governance Framework proposes some key objectives to underpin more flexible and comprehensive regional collaboration arrangements and outlines the range of further policy and legislative considerations that are required if these objectives were to be met. . While this framework focusses on the regional subsidiary provisions under the Local Government Act as a primary tool for enabling regional collaboration, this is not to the exclusion of other models being pursued. In several regards the draft framework proposes a substantial departure from the existing structure and operation of regional models. Consultation is required with Councils, state government and other stakeholders to test these proposals and ensure that policy, legal and practical considerations are fully explored.
Regional Governance Framework There is a long history of regional collaboration in local government in South Australia, with many existing formal and informal structures in place for councils to work collaboratively and provide shared services. Formal bodies established under the Local Government Act’s regional subsidiary provisions currently undertake a broad range of functions and services. Examples include representation and advocacy, waste collection and disposal, collective purchasing and regulatory functions. Councils can also achieve collaboration without the need for a formal governance structure. There are numerous examples of Councils working together on a temporary or ongoing basis to plan for and progress important issues such as stormwater management, public health, land use planning, economic development and climate change As identified in the report, local government in South Australia faces a number of demographic, financial, political and environmental challenges in the years ahead. These challenges will inevitably place additional pressure on councils to expand their service offering and become more innovative and contemporary in their business practices. The Panel considered that strengthening regional collaboration and partnerships is an important and necessary response to present and future challenges. The local government sector has been giving serious consideration to the Panel’s recommendations and the LGA has provided funding and technical support to four pilot projects that are exploring opportunities for regional collaboration partnerships. These investigations have confirmed the appetite and potential for regional structures to undertake a broad range of functions. It is evident that a ‘one size fits all’ solution to regional governance will not satisfy the diverse objectives of different councils and regions. Rather, local government requires a broader suite of flexible governance options that can be tailored to the needs of different regions, councils and communities. This draft Regional Governance Framework proposes some key objectives to underpin more flexible and comprehensive regional collaboration arrangements and outlines the range of further policy and legislative considerations that are required if these objectives were to be met. . While this framework focusses on the regional subsidiary provisions under the Local Government Act as a primary tool for enabling regional collaboration, this is not to the exclusion of other models being pursued. In several regards the draft framework proposes a substantial departure from the existing structure and operation of regional models. Consultation is required with Councils, state government and other stakeholders to test these proposals and ensure that policy, legal and practical considerations are fully explored.
ECM_634688_v2_Consultation%20on%20Regional%20Governance%20Framework%20Janu%20V3.docx