Meeting 4: Mar 2001Premier’s Local Government Council – Meeting Report1 March 2001 A broader range of issues for the Premier's Local Government Council in 2001The Premier’s Local Government Council met today to agree to its 2001 work program. Today’s meeting was the first with Premier Jim Bacon as Chair. The Council has agreed to commence work immediately on two new issues: State – Local Government financial relations and a consultation and communication framework. In addition to these, work will continue on the two Partnership Agreements developed last year. A work program has been developed which gives timeframes for each of these projects. The Council has also accepted a revised Protocol Agreement that reflects the broader issues focus for the group. The Protocol Agreement sets out the objectives, principles and procedures for the Council. Communication and Consultation FrameworkParticipants at the meeting noted that Local Government has for some time sought improvements in the timing and scope of consultations with State Government regarding major policy and legislative proposals. Similarly the meeting noted that the State Government feels it cannot always obtain a consensus view from Local Government. Following the discussion of these matters, the Council agreed to establish a working group to identify options for improved consultations and communication, including the development of a charter setting out standards for consultation and communication. The project may also include arrangements for improved coordination of Local Government views, the development of a by-laws database and the devolution of complaints resolution. Work will commence on this issue as soon as practicable. The State Government has nominated the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Ms Linda Hornsey as the State Government co-chair of this group. Reform of State and Local Government Financial RelationsCouncil members noted that work has also commenced on the project to reform financial relations between the State and Local Government. The project is to involve the review of existing financial transactions between the two spheres of Government with the objective of rationalising them on a revenue neutral basis. The State Government has completed a survey of all Government Agencies, Government Business Enterprises, State-owned companies, statutory authorities and all Local Government Councils. The survey will provide initial data for the project. The Council requested that the working group prepare an issues paper outlining the rationale and objectives of the project by April. This paper will be referred back to the Premier’s Local Government for further discussion. Simplifying Planning SchemesThe Statewide Partnership on a Framework for Planning Schemes was signed in October 2000. The aim of the group is to bring greater consistency to planning schemes and thereby ensuring certainty for any potential developer. The meeting noted a draft discussion paper on Simplifying Planning Schemes has been produced. The draft will be available for public comment for a four-week period until 16 March 2001. 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. Waste ManagementThe Council considered a work program tabled to the Statewide Partnership Agreement on Waste Management and endorsed recommendations relating to the National Packaging Covenant. The Tasmanian Waste Advisory Committee under the auspices of Premier’s Local Government Council has invited regional groupings of councils to comment on the National Packaging Covenant discussion paper and decide whether they wish to become signatories to the Covenant. In the event that regional groups do not want to become signatories, individual councils will be invited to do so. Regional groupings that do decide to become signatories to the NPC will also be invited to become members of the Tasmanian Jurisdictional Recycling Group (TJRG). The TJRG is established in each State and Territory to identify and develop relevant projects for the jurisdiction. |
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