Premier’s Local Government Council – Meeting Report
3 September 2007
The Premier’s Local Government Council (PLGC) held its 21st meeting on 3 September 2007.
The PLGC noted progress on two projects and discussed the issue of water and sewerage reform:
- Review of the Operations and Functions of the Local Government Board: The Council noted that the Steering Committee for the review of the Board met on 4 April to consider the responses received to the Issues Paper. Further work has been done on the development of proposals related to the operations and functions of the Board. It was reported that further progress would likely include the role of the Board in light of a broader framework for continuous improvement for Councils, within the context of other State and national issues on asset management, financial sustainability and the reform of Tasmania’s water and sewerage sector.
- Review of the Statewide Partnership Agreement on Communication and Consultation between the State and Local Government: The Council noted that a new draft Agreement under development by the Local Government Office and the LGAT is being finalised before consultation with Agencies and Local Government proceeds.
- Water and sewerage reform: The Premier reiterated his commitment to consultation with Local Government on water and sewerage reform and that there would be PLGC discussion before a decision on structures and arrangements. He also reported that Michelle O’Byrne MHA has become a member of the Ministerial Water and Sewerage Taskforce. The Council noted that the Treasurer is consulting regularly with Local Government through the General Management Committee of the Local Government Association of Tasmania.
The Council received reports on a range of other issues, including progress on:
- the Better Planning Outcomes project and the State Policy on the Protection of Agricultural Land
- population ageing including the Demographic Change Advisory Council, the Tripartite Agreement for Population Ageing in Tasmania and the launch of the second five-year Tasmania Plan for Positive Ageing
- the Strategic Infrastructure Investment Criteria project
- climate change
- Local Government financial sustainability.
The next meeting of the PLGC is scheduled for 12 December 2007, in Launceston.
