Meeting 3: Dec 2000Premier’s Local Government Council – Meeting Report19 December 2000 State and local government representatives agree to expand the Premier's Local Government CouncilState and Local Government have agreed to expand the Premier’s Local Government Council to examine a broader range of issues in 2001. Meeting today in Hobart, the Council discussed arrangements for expansion of the Council. The Premier will assume responsibility for chairing the Council from its first meeting in 2001. Issues identified for consideration by the Council include State-Local Government financial relations, a framework for consideration of legislative matters, emergency risk management. The Council also heard progress reports on projects being undertaken by the Council to simplify planning schemes and implement the Statewide Agreement on Waste Management. The Council was established in February 2000 for a trial period of twelve months to provide a forum for State and Local Government to discuss statewide issues of mutual interest. During this period it has focussed primarily on issues within the Primary Industries, Water and Environment portfolio. The Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment, the Hon David Llewellyn MHA, chaired the Council during 2000. Council Arrangements for 2001The Council heard an address by the Premier outlining his vision for the Council. He expressed confidence in the Council as a forum for progressing issues of statewide significance to Councils and congratulated the Council for its work to date. The Premier proposed that issues surrounding the financial relationship between State and Local Government provide the focus of the Council’s work program in 2001. The Council noted that now that the 1 July 200 national taxation reform milestone had been met, it is appropriate that a project to reform State and Local Government financial relations commence. The aim of the State-Local Government financial reform project is to simplify and make more transparent arrangements between the two levels of government. The project will involve reviewing existing financial transactions between the two spheres of Government with the objective of rationalising them on a revenue neutral basis. As an essential preliminary step in the review, the State Government is currently undertaking a survey of all Government Agencies, Government Business Enterprises, State-owned companies, statutory authorities and all Local Government Councils. The Council has requested that Officials prepare a paper for consideration by the Council at its first meeting in 2001, outlining the proposed scope of the project, the high level principles guiding the development of reforms and a process and timetable for consideration of issues. The Council has requested that Officials prepare a work program for the Council for 2001. In addition to ongoing consideration of planning and waste management issues, the work program will include addressing matters relating to the development of a framework for consultation on legislative review and amendment and a cooperative approach to the Tasmanian Emergency Risk Management Project. Consideration will also be given to Constitutional Recognition of local government as part of the Council’s work program. Simplifying Planning SchemesThe Council heard a briefing from Mr Geoff Davis, Chair of the Simplifying Planning Schemes project established following the signing of a Statewide Partnership on a Framework for Planning Schemes in October 2000. Mr Davis noted that many of Tasmania’s 29 Councils administer more than one planning scheme, with nearly 70 planning schemes in use across the State. There is little consistency between the schemes, even between those within a single municipal area. The project plan outlines the process for simplifying planning schemes by developing common elements, beginning with the preparation of a background and options paper. The paper will explore issues and potential options for common key elements. It is envisaged that the paper will be released for comment early in the new year, with development of common key elements proceeding on the basis of preferred options identified from the consultation phase. Later phases of the project will examine in more detail the opportunities for progression to performance based planning and include consideration of planning processes impeding improved outcomes. The Statewide Partnership Agreement will operate for a period of two years. Waste ManagementMembers of the Council reiterated their view that the proper management of waste was important for both environmental and economic reasons. The Council heard a report from Mr Max Laughlin, Chair of the Tasmanian Waste Advisory Committee (TWAC) established as part of the Statewide Partnership Agreement on Waste Management signed in October 2000. TWAC comprises State and Local Government representatives, representatives from industry, the waste management industry and the broader community. The Committee is responsible for addressing agreed waste management priorities as part of the Statewide Partnership Agreement, including the identification of issues and options for advancing the National Packaging Covenant; options for managing hazardous waste, the identification of options for promoting market development and resource recovery; and the identification of issues and options for a producer pays mechanism to assist the implementation of waste management activities in the State. |
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