The key aims of the Governance and Strategy team at WALGA are to:

•  Advocate for appropriate legislative and regulatory reform as it relates to the provision of effective local governance.
• Provide information and advice to both elected members and senior Local Government staff on the implementation and application of the Local Government Act and associated regulations, including the continuation of a quality Complete Guide to the Local Government Act and incorporating Practice Notes, Forms and Proformas and Councillor’s Manuals.
• Advise members in relation to Local Laws and provide Councils with a quality Local Laws Service.
• Review and implement Association and sector-wide strategic issues including the Systemic Sustainability Study project.
• Provide governance support for the WALGA State Council and associated Committees.

Current & Emerging Issues

• A State Wide Forum for the Systemic Sustainability Study was held on 15 September 2008 at the City of Stirling. The final draft version of the report, The Journey: Sustainability into the Future was discussed and debated at the Forum by approximately 300 Local Government representatives, with the report receiving strong support and endorsement from the sector. Immediately following the Forum, the WALGA State Council held a special meeting to take into account the comments and issues raised to endorse the report. The final report has now been published and distributed to WALGA members and Local Government stakeholders.
• The final report - The Journey: Sustainability into the Future - is available from the SSS section of this website.

• The Study into Rateability of State Agreements has been completed and considered by the State Government. The Premier has recently written to the Association advising that the Government will now implement a policy to exclude rates concession clauses from future State Agreements and remove the clause from current State Agreements on a case-by-case basis. The Premier stated in his correspondence that this is an important issue for the State, and believes that this proactive approach will contribute to the sustainability of our regions and the resources industry. The Department of State Development will be briefing Local Governments on the future application of this policy. This is a pleasing result for the sector albeit the Study has taken a long time to be completed.

• The Association requested feedback from Local Governments on all aspects of the 2009 Local Government Elections, which will be collated for a State Council agenda item. The Minister for Electoral Affairs, the Hon Norman Moore MLC, held a preliminary meeting with WALGA and the WAEC to discuss the 2009 elections. A number of issues were discussed, including a number of ballot pack distribution issues, candidate profiles and advertising and the WAEC's monopoly in conducting postal elections.
• As part of the State Government's Local Government Reform process, the Minister for Local Government has established a working group to consider amendments to the Local Government Act 1995. The working group is considering a raft of legislative amemdments: many of which are contained in the SSS report and many have been proposed as part of the Association's advocacy over the past three years. The full list of proposals is available in the Governance and Strategy Team's February 2010 Key Activity Report.
• The Association was approached in 2009 by WA Police to consider a draft protocol for the release of vehicle owner information from WA Police to Local Governments in the case of an immediate operational requirement, such as an abandoned car. Normal channels such as Fines Enforcement Registry and Department for Planning and Infrastructure will still be used for administrative requirements. The WALGA Governance and Strategy Policy Team endorsed the protocol, which is now in operation.
• The Model Code of Conduct has been updated in response to recent changes to the Local Government Act 1995 and regulations. An infopage has been distributed to all Local Governments and is available here. The Model Code of Conduct is available here.
• WALGA Governance and Strategy staff are members of the Steering Committee undertaking a study entitled State Agreements, Rates, Planning and Building Study along with a number of State Government Department representatives. The study is examining the effects State Agreements have on Local Government revenue as well as Local Government planning and building approvals processes under State Agreements. The report is due to be released in December 2008. The Terms of Reference are available here.
• Association staff have been part of a working group and advisory group that is working with the State Government in developing a coordinated response to animal welfare issues. This group formed after the intended prosecution of Police and Local Government Officers for attempting to move a kangaroo from a residential area. As a result of this process, a flow-chart has been developed which clarifies the roles of key State Government agencies and Local Government Rangers. The flow-chart has received generally positive feedback to date and is under continual review. The flow-chart is available here.

Update on Sector Feedback

• The Local Government sector has been surveyed on the issue of compulsory voting in Local Government elections. A discussion paper and infopage were prepared and distributed to all Councils in June 2008 seeking feedback. Seventy-two responses were received and the item was considered during the September Zone meetings and ultimately at the 1 October 2008 State Council meeting where State Council resolved to adopt a formal policy position supporting the continuation of voluntary voting in Local Government elections. The issue of the preferred method of voting was also considered and State Council resolved to maintain the Association's policy position of supporting first past the post. State Council resolved that:

1. a formal policy position stating opposition to compulsory voting in Local Government elections in Western Australia be adopted;
2. the current WALGA policy position supporting first past the post as the preferred voting system in Local Government elections be maintained; and,
3. WALGA advocate to the new State Government to revert to first past the post voting

The Governance & Strategy Team

The Association carried out an organisational restructure in early 2007. One of the outcomes of the restructure was the establishment of a Governance and Strategy Portfolio. The Association had received significant feedback from member Councils that the Department of Local Government and Regional Development were concentrating more on compliance and Local Governments were looking for more assistance in the Governance advice area.

The timing of the expansion of the Governance and Strategy Advisory Service is aligned with significant events within the sector. With amendments to the Local Government Act 1995 and associated Regulations, the Association has seen the need to expand its Governance advice to the industry.

The following are the staff positions in the Governance and Strategy team:

Complete Guide to the Local Government Act & Governance Support

As part of WALGA’s governance advice services to members, a Complete Guide to the Local Government Act consisting of three volumes has been produced. These guides are continually reviewed and Local Governments are encouraged to subscribe to the update service to ensure their guides are always up to date. In addition, a Local Laws manual has been produced as part of the subscription-based Local Laws WA service.

• The Councillor’s Manual is an important part of this suite of information resources. It provides a single comprehensive source of information to assist Local Government elected members in understanding and effectively performing their roles and responsibilities. The Manual also contains forms and proforma documents which elected members will need, such as forms for primary and annual returns (financial interests), a model Code of Conduct and model Employment Contracts for senior employees, a Financial Interests Guide, a Local Government Elections Guide, plus a paper on taxation implications of Local Government payments to elected members. In addition, there is a section on Local Government, elected member and employee liability, and guidance in the annual requirement to evaluate the Chief Executive Officer's performance. Another recent addition is hints on the roles and responsibilities for persons presiding at meetings.
  
  Replacement hard copy Councillor’s Manuals were distributed to Local Governments in early-mid January 2008. These manuals are to replace older versions of the Councillor’s Manuals that have been outdated due to significant amendments to the Local Government Act in recent years. CD-ROM versions of the Councillor’s Manuals have also been distributed to Local Governments. There are limited copies of both the hard-copy and CD-ROM manuals available to order. These can be ordered by contacting Tim Lane. 
• The Practice Notes Manual is the comprehensive practitioners guide, providing over 400 pages of full detail of all major provisions in the Act and Regulations, plus legal opinions, commentary and hints together with a detailed index. The Practice Notes Manual was recently updated, with udate inserts provided to all subscribing Members this year. Complete copies of the Manual are available from the Association for $100.00 per manual, with a CD ROM version available for $52.00.
• The Forms and Proformas Manual update inserts were forwarded to subscribing Councils in October 2008. Complete copies of the Manual are available from the Association at a cost of $100.00 per Manual, with a CD ROM version available for $52.00.

• Local Laws WA is a value for money service for Local Governments to ensure a high standard of local law making.
   
  A Local Laws Manual has been produced for all subscribers to Local Laws WA, as a composite reference source covering all aspects of local law making. It is intended to provide practical guidance to the process of local law making, information on local laws enacted by Local Governments throughout WA, model local laws as examples for Local Governments to consider for their own requirements, and advice relating to provisions in other legislation, minimising the cost of gazettal as well as traps and issues to avoid. The services provided by Local Laws WA are designed to complement practical information notes which have been prepared for inclusion in the Local Laws segment of The Complete Guide to the Local Government Act 1995, which is being widely used throughout the industry.
  
  The Local Laws Manual is presently being updated to provide an improved local law making service to subscribing Local Governments. The content of the Manual is being reviewed and will also feature a new Model Standing Orders (Meetings Procedure) Local Law and a new Public Places and Local Government Property Local Law, consolidating the existing  Local Government Property, Thoroughfares and Trading in Public Places and Eating Houses/Al Fresco Local Laws.
  
   

• A review of the Model Code of Conduct, required following amendments to the Local Government Act 1995 and Regulations, is now complete. Updated copies have been forwarded to subscribers of the Forms and Proformas Manual. The Model Code of Conduct is available for download here.

Documents & Links

• A concise summary outlining the legislative roles of Councillors, Mayors and Presidents and CEOs is available to download here.
• The Governance Policy Team's Key Activity Report is available here.
• Click here for a summary of vacancies on State and Association Boards and Committees.
• State Council documentation can be found in the 'Member Resources' section
• The State Local Government Partnership Agreement can be downloaded here