News
Short Courses for 2008
View the short course schedule here
Graduate Programs for 2008
Opportunites to enroll for Spring semester here
Certification Short Course
The new Certification Short Course for building professionals is experiencing overwhelming demand and all current offers for 2008 are full. However, the Centre is planning further offers for new Certifiers and for engineers who must renew their accreditation by March 2009. For details on waiting lists please contact Laura Earl
Bushfire Protection Extension Course
A 2-day 'update' for professionals who have previously completed the 5-day Planning for Bushfire Prone Areas course or an equivalent. More
Headlines
- Launch of Commonwealth e-Journal of Local Governance. More
- SEMINAR: Tony Jackson, "Policies for Economic Development: What Works?" More
- International visitors to the Centre. More
- Partnerships seminar with Prof Chris Skelcher: Wednesday 19 March. More
- Welcome to new CLG staff. More
- New research project on capital cities. More
- CLAIR Sydney seminar. More
- Local Government Management Challenge. More
- Auckland seminar on metropolitan governance. More
- Latest Just Communities project update. More
- Working with Local Government seminars. More
- Sarah Artist joins Centre. More
- Pacific Local Government Project. More
- Research on Pacific Local Government Legislation. More
- Progress on Capacity Building for Honiara City Council. More
- CLGF Seminar and Meetings in Kampala. More
- Evaluation of Active Transport Strategies for Parents and Children. More
- National Framework for Women in Local Government. More
- Review of NSW Social Plans. More
- Forum of Federations Research on Local Government. More
- New Directions for NSW Local Government. More
- Recent Events and Seminars. More
- Recent Conference Presentations. More
Feedback
Your feedback about our website is always appreciated. Please contact Daniel Grafton.
New e-Journal
The first issue of the Commonwealth e-Journal of Local Governance was launched on 7 May at Marlborough House, London. It is a joint venture of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum and UTS, with support from the Commonwealth Secretariat. More
International visitors
Professor Fumihiko Saito of Ryukoku University, Japan, discussed his research on Japanese municipal authorities, with particular reference to deliberative initiatives used in both countries. Robert Mellor, Program Manager in the Centre, outlined his practical experience in instituting better and sustainable local governance practices in Vietnam.
Professor Fumihiko Saito with the Centre's Robert Mellor
Professor Fumihiko Saito is Deputy Director of Local Human Resources and Public Policy Development System Open Research Centre (LORC), Ryukoku University. Professor Saito has previously worked for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bangladesh and Uganda, and has edited Foundations for Local Governance: Decentralization in Comparative Perspective (2007). A summary of Prof. Saito's book can be viewed here.
Graduate Programs for 2008
- Graduate Diploma in Local Government Management
This program commences with the foundation subject 'Principles and Practice 1' on 7-11 April. Due to a high volume of applications we are considering a Spring offer for this course (August).
Please register your interest with Laura Earl before 8th June 2008 - Graduate Certificate in Development Assessment
This program will be available for entry in Spring semester (August) For more information about these programs please contact Laura Earl or visit our Courses page.
Partnerships Seminar with Professor Chris Skelcher
Professor Chris Skelcher
On Wednesday 19 March Professor Chris Skelcher delivered a seminar called "Partnerships and Performance - Crystal Stream or Muddy Puddle?" Partnerships promise a lot for public service performance, but do they deliver? Professor Skelcher used his extensive research into local government partnerships in the UK to explore both the potential and problems of partnership working. He suggested some frameworks for understanding different forms of partnership and identify challenges for policy makers and researchers working in this field.
The seminar was aimed at those involved with local and state governments, as well as the private and community sectors, who are looking at various forms of public-public and public-private partnerships as a means of improving program and service delivery.
Professor Skelcher is the Director of Research for the School of Public Policy and Professor of Public Governance at INLOGOV at the University of Birmingham, UK.
Seminar Flyer (PDF- 74KB)
New Centre Staff
We welcome two new staff to the Centre: Anne Aylmer, Short Course Administrator, and Gabrielle Watterson, Graduate Programs and Finance Administrator. Anne joins us following Laura Earl's departure for Europe, and Gabrielle for Nuha Saad during her maternity leave.
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Capital Cities in Federal Systems
The Centre has been commissioned by the Forum of Federations to undertake the Australian component of a global research study into the Finance and Governance of Capital Cities in Federal Systems. This study will compare Canberra with other federal capitals in Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States.
Although many of the political, cultural, and symbolic functions of capital cities in federal countries are similar, there is considerable variation in many of the other characteristics of these cities. In terms of finance and governance, national capitals differ with respect to (i) the local governing structure, (ii) their roles, responsibilities, and revenues, and (iii) their fiscal relationship with the federal government. These distinguishing features reflect differences in national cultures, historical development, constitutions, political structures, and ideologies.
The study will lead to publication of a book with a chapter on each country. Key questions to be addressed will include:
- How is the capital city governed - is it a city-state, a city within a province or state, or a federal district? Is there a capital commission? How does the governance of the capital city differ from the governance of other cities in the country? Does the federal government have veto power over local decisions?
- What are the responsibilities of the capital city and how are they funded? How have responsibilities and revenues changed over the last 20 years?
- How much financial support does the federal government provide for its capital city? How does this arrangement differ with respect to other cities? Does the federal government compensate the capital city for capital functions? Does the federal government pay property taxes on its properties? Is the capital city sufficiently compensated for the costs associated with its being a capital?
- What are the major issues around the capital city? Are there fiscal issues around federal funding of the city? Are their governance issues around who is responsible for decision-making? Are there unique planning issues around keeping the capital city beautiful, maintaining green space, etc.? Are there regional issues in terms of the city's ability to provide services to neighbouring municipalities within the metropolitan region? How are these issues being resolved?
For further information, contact Graham Sansom. Forum of Federations website link
CLAIR Sydney Seminar
On Friday 15 February 2008 the Centre participated in the 2008 CLAIR Sydney Local Government Seminar, hosted by the Japan Local Government Centre. The theme of the seminar was Future Intergovernmental Relations - Ideas from Japan, with keynote speaker Mr Toshihiko Yokoo, Mayor of Taku City and member of the Japanese Prime Minister's Council to Promote Decentralization Reform.
The seminar was particularly timely in view of the new federal government's proposals to re-shape the Australian federation, and continuing moves by the NSW Local Government and Shires Associations to negotiate an inter-government agreement with the State government.
Robert Mellor, Program Manager at the Centre, chaired proceedings and also presented an overview of the state-of-play in inter-government relations in Australia, and how likely developments may affect local government, prepared by Centre Director Graham Sansom.
Other speakers included:
- Mr Kenji Ikeda, Director of JLGC, who provided an introduction to local government in Japan
- Councillor Robyn Kemmis, City of Sydney and formerly UTS Deputy Vice Chancellor
- Ross Woodward, Deputy Director General of the NSW Department of Local Government
- Councillor Robert Bell, Vice President of the NSW Local Government Association
- Stephen Blackadder, formerly General Manager of Warringah Council, representing Local Government Managers Australia.
From L-R: Mr Kenji Ikeda, Councillor Robyn Kemmis, Mayor Toshihiko Yokoo
CLG's Robert Mellor opens proceedings
The CLAIR panel (l-r): Mayor Toshihiko Yokoo; Stephen Stephen Blackadder, Councillor Robert Bell, Ross Woodward
Auckland Seminar on Metropolitan Governance
On 4 February Centre Director Graham Sansom spoke at a seminar on metropolitan governance convened by the Local Government Centre of the Auckland University of Technology. This follows an initiative by the New Zealand government of establishing a Royal Commission to review current arrangements for governance of the Auckland metropolitan region, focussing upon the need to ensure that Auckland functions effectively as the powerhouse of the NZ economy and remains competitive with large cities around the world. The Royal Commission will consider among other things how infrastructure and services can best be delivered, how central and local governments can collaborate effectively, and whether changes to local government structures are required. Its findings will undoubtedly also have relevance for Australian metropolitan governance.
Graham Sansom made a short presentation suggesting some lessons that could be learned from recent Australian experience, contrasting Brisbane and Sydney.
Click here for a copy his presentation (PPT-272KB) or for more details contact Graham Sansom.
Sarah Artist joins Centre
The Centre is very pleased to welcome Sarah Artist who recently joined our team as part-time Program Manager, replacing Simone Schwarz who has returned to her position as Manager-Strategic Planning with Sutherland Shire Council. Sarah has qualifications in environmental management and public policy, and extensive experience in policy and strategic management in the public sector. She has worked as a project officer and corporate planner in councils and since 2003 as the Principal of Catalyst Consulting Solutions. Her recent work has covered a wide range of local government issues including corporate planning, community engagement, public safety, environmental management, rating policies and the position of women in local government.
Working with Local Government Seminars
In 2008 the Centre will again offer its highly successful 'Working with Local Government' seminar to assist State government officials and others who want to know more about how the system of local government works and how to get the best results from working with councils. The program is scheduled for 14-15 August.
During 2007 the Centre has delivered three specially tailored versions of its highly succesful 'Working with Local Government' program for the Greater Western and Greater Southern Area Health Services (in Dubbo and Queanbeyan respectively) and the Department of Environment and Climate Change (in Sydney). These tailored programs provide an opportunity for government agencies to incorporate their own specialised content. All three seminars were rated very highly by participants.
The Centre would be pleased to work with more agencies to offer tailored programs alongside 'core' information about the local government system and how to work more effectively with councils.
For further information contact Laura Earl
Progress on Capacity Building for Honiara City Council
Centre Director Graham Sansom again visited Honiara in September 2007 to monitor and review progress in implementing the NZAID-Commonwealth Local Government Forum project to substantially upgrade the capacity and skills of the City Council. The project has been operating in a particularly complex and difficult environment following the tensions generated by the 2006 national elections. However, there are now encouraging signs of progress. The Centre will continue to undertake periodic monitoring and evaluation during 2008, plus a full mid-term review in 2009. It will also provide specific advice and expertise on particular aspects of the project.
For further information, contact Graham Sansom
CLGF Seminar and Meetings in Kampala
In early October 2007 Centre Director Graham Sansom participated in both a regional research seminar workshop and the inaugural meeting of the new Policy and Resources Committee of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, held in Kampala, Uganda. The seminar focused on research undertaken in Uganda on the progress being made in implementing the Commonwealth Principles on Local Democracy and Good Governance, adopted at the 2005 CHOGM.
Uganda has made a series of legislative and policy changes aimed at decentralisation and strengthening the role of local government, and agreed to have these independently reviewed as a demonstration project for all Commonwealth countries. The final report of the review is available from the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.
The CLGF committee meetings covered a wide range of issues, including further development of the Forum's Research Advisory Group and the launch of an e-journal on Local Governance ( more). The Centre is taking the lead in both these initiatives. The meetings also focused on local government input to the 2007 CHOGM which was held in Kampala in November. A delegation from CLGF met with Ugandan President Museveni. It is hoped that leading Commonwealth countries like Australia will support further studies into local democracy and governance along the lines of the research completed in Uganda.
For more information contact Graham Sansom
Forum of Federations Roundtable
The Centre is leading Australia's participation in the Global Dialogue on Local Government and Metropolitan Regions in Federal Systems. The dialogue is one of a series organised by the Forum of Federations and the International Association of Centre for Federal Studies (based in Canada). Participating countries include Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and the USA. The Centre hosted an Australian Roundtable on 8-9 February 2007, attended by senior representatives of local, State and federal governments plus leading academics. The conclusions reached and issues raised at the Australian Roundtable were taken forward to an international meeting held in Johannesburg on 21-22 April. This included presentations by all participating countries and extensive discussions on the key themes to emerge.
A booklet summarising key themes and findings of the dialogue was published in September 2007 and includes a chapter on Australia by Centre Director Graham Sansom. A much more extensive review will be contained in a book to be published in 2008, again including a chapter by Graham Sansom.
For further information contact Graham Sansom.
Bushfire Protection Extension Course
This course is designed to provide updated information and skills in planning and development assessment in bushfire prone areas. The new Planning for Bush Fire Protection manual and associated regulations have introduced very significant changes. It is essential that professionals involved in this area have a thorough grasp of the new rules and approaches to be taken.
The course offers a detailed explanation of the new manual and related changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, Rural Fires Act, and Building Code of Australia. It will focus on Acceptable Solutions but also introduce the performance-based approaches. In addition, the course will extend practical skills in vegetation identification across a broad range of habitats, slope assessment, and on-the-ground determination of Asset Protection Zones.
The course will be of value to both private sector and local government professionals responsible for the design and control of development.
The prerequisite for this course is the UTS 5-day Planning for Bushfire Prone Areas program or equivalent.
For details on both the extension course and the 5-day course please go to the short course schedule for a brochure and registration form, or contact Laura Earl for further information.
Planning For Bushfire Prone Areas students on a field trip to the Royal National Park
Director visits Malaysia on behalf of CLGF
In his capacity as a board member of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, Centre Director Graham Sansom recently visited Malaysia for discussions with senior national, state and local government representatives. He met with the Secretary General of the national Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Sarawak minister responsible for local government in that state, the President of the Malaysian Association of Local Authorities and several local councils. The purpose of the mission was to explore opportunities for further initiatives to promote enhanced local democracy, including increased public participation, accountability and transparency.
For further information contact Graham Sansom.
Centre Director Graham Sansom in Malaysia
Evaluation of Active Transport Strategies
A recent research project undertaken by the Centre and the Institute for Sustainable Futures has finally confirmed what has been a 'gut feeling' or merely anecdotal evidence, that the bulk of parents can't shift their transport to more active modes due to the rigid and severely limited time constraints of working parents. Despite this, the project evaluation, conducted by the Centre, found that a range of strategies introduced at childcare centres were successfully implemented. These strategies included 'walk to childcare days', health and nutrition information sessions for parents and the development of Transport Access Guides for each of the childcare centres.
The Project found that possibilities for intervention and strategies were more likely if there were 'stay at home' or part time working parents. In the words of one officer "there's not a lot you can do with two parents working".
The 'Active Transport Strategies for Parents and Children at Council Preschools and Childcare Centres project' was a pilot project funded from the Local Government and Shires Associations' (LGSA) Healthy Local Government Grants Program. The project's goal was to increase physical activity in the communities of parents and preschool aged children at four council operated childcare centres, by supporting parents to use 'active transport' (pram walking, cycling with child seats, child cycling /scooting and using public transport). By increasing physical activity as part of parent's and children's daily lives, the project aimed to contribute to the prevention of chronic disease and obesity in both child and adult populations.
The project was a partnership between UTS, the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC), and three of its member councils - Waverley, Sutherland Shire and Marrickville, the Sydney South West Area Health Service.
Download the report here. For further information, contact Graham Sansom.
National Framework for Women in Local Government
During 2006-7 the Centre undertook a research project for the Australian Local Government Women's Association to review and update the 2001 National Framework for Women in Local Government. The report of the review, The Way Forward, was released in Canberra on 23 May 2007 by the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues, Hon Julie Bishop, and the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, Hon Jim Lloyd.
Further information and a copy of the report can be found at the ALGWA website.
Small group discussions at the Adelaide workshop
Review of Social Plans
In 2007 the Centre completed a review of a sample of Social/Community Plans prepared by NSW councils. The review aimed to explore the various approaches adopted and to some of the key implications of recent experience in this field for future practice. In particular, it highlighted a number of issues that need to be taken into account in progressing the Department of Local Government's proposals for a new Integrated Planning and Reporting framework. The final version of the report, Raising Expectations? A Review of NSW Local Government Social Plans is now available for download. For further information contact Daniel Grafton.
Local Government Management Challenge
This year the Centre will again facilitate the NSW section of the LGMA's Australia-New Zealand Local Government Management Challenge. To date, 35 teams have entered from NSW councils and the event will be held over 4 days on 1-4 April.
For further information contact Petra Schweidler at the LGMA.
In 2007 the NSW winner was Wagga Wagga City Council, with Ballina second and Port Macquarie-Hastings third. Wagga Wagga went on to represent NSW in the Australasian Challenge held in Hobart on 29 April. That event was won by Melbourne City Council with Wellington (NZ) second and Adelaide third.
Local Government Teams at the 2007 Local Government Management Challenge
New Directions for NSW Local Government
Centre Director Graham Sansom and Program Manager Simone Schwarz are both members of the NSW Department of Local Government's reference group for its new Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework.
The Centre has recently responded to both the options paper on Integrated Planning and Reporting and the earlier policy paper 'A New Direction for Local Government'.
Click below for copies of the Centre's comments:
Conference Presentations
Recent presentations have included:
Local Planners and the New Community Strategies: What role? (NSW Local Government Planners Forum, September 2007).
Sustainable Local Government and Libraries: What will it take? (Public Libraries Australia Conference, August 2007).
Getting it Together: Working Smarter for Stronger Local Government. (Tasmanian Local Government Association, June 2006).
See-Saw Rich and Poor: Rethinking Local Government Funding. (National Congress of Local Government Managers Australia, May 2006).
A Renewed Vision for Local Governance: Facing the Challenge of Sustainability. (Queensland Local Government Community Services Association, October 2006).
