VLGA Connect: Governance Update, 24th June 2022
Episode 281
Today on the Governance Update with Chris Eddy and Stephen Cooper, brought to you by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.
It's National Take Your Dog to Work Day! Apart from canine interruptus, we talk about the newly released Municipal Monitor's report in relation to Yarra City Council;
A councillor donating her allowance accrued during a leave of absence;
Councillors standing for Liberal Party preselection to the upper house;
The culture review insights report in the news;
Councils grappling with balance in relation to public participation at council meetings;
CEO appointment news and Steve's view on how CEO salaries are reported in the media;
and much, much more.

Here are some links for further reading:
Yarra monitor report: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/municipal-monitor-tenure-extended-yarra-city-council; https://t.co/xbeXa6Gm91
Despi O'Connor to donate allowance: https://www.mpnews.com.au/2022/06/20/oconnor-to-donate-council-election-pay/
Liberal Party upper house preselection: https://twitter.com/sumeyyailanbey/status/1539387781889216512?s=20
ABC reports on culture review insights report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA06p38EgQ4
Chestermere Council under investigation: https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/not-right-chestermere-council-under-fire-for-lack-of-transparency
City of Swan meeting procedure changes: https://echonewspaper.com.au/talk-time-cut-at-swan/?fbclid=IwAR3vm8umeJ0lS0SVVmoNMpBX2VloqWBqrV4pEc0JuEt8-kcJf_R4tEQc8pg
A CEO appointed and then unappointed: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/onkaparinga-council-ceo-alastair-dawson-who-blasted-grace-tame/news-story/ecd14b0069c7e757daec91f900f8aeb0
City of Casey CEO reappointed for 5 years: https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/news/council-reappoints-casey-ceo-glenn-patterson
Jerome Weimar, CEO Comm Games OC https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/weimar-lead-victoria-2026-organising-committee
Southern Mallee CEO and Council part ways:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-23/southern-mallee-council-ceo-jason-taylor-leaves/101176302
London councillor escapes sanction for breaking lockdown rules - was not acting in an official capacity!
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-61892733

Support the show

To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

This week on the Governance Update with Chris Eddy and Steve Cooper, discussion topics include:
Reaction to the State Government's threatened freeze out of Geelong Council;
VLGA Board election results are in;
Making the case for a new day of observance;
Councils in the news over alleged conflicts of interest, inappropriate conduct and corrosive council work environments.

The Governance Update from VLGA Connect is sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.

Links:
VLGA Board Election results: https://www.vlga.org.au/news/results-2022-vlga-board-elections
Mornington Peninsula reappoints CEO: https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/About-Us/News-Media-Publications/News-Media/Council-reappoints-Shire-CEO-John-Baker
Randwick Mayor rejects complaint to ICAC: Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker rejects complaint made to ICAC over $10m surf club refurbishment | Daily Telegraph
Surf Coast developers sue government: Surf Coast: Developers sue Daniel Andrews government over planning ‘bias’ (theage.com.au)
Adelaide Councillor resigns over corrosive culture: 'There is no civility': Prominent city councillor resigns - CityMag
English County Councils inflation funding call: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Counties-in-inflation-funding-call/54360

Support the show

To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

VLGA Connect, Episode 279:
This week, speculation about the identity of PRGuy hits the Governance Update. Plus, preparing your Governance Rules for new rules on remote meetings; new financial hardship legislation announced; Mayors step down and CEOs appointed; an EB is landed; Council culture and councillor behaviour exposed, and much more. Brought to you by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.

Links:
1. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/federal-court-orders-twitter-to-release-information-on-controversial-prguy17-account-20220607-p5arpo.html
2. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6937724500289417216/
3. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/giving-ratepayers-fair-go
4. https://communitydirectors.com.au/training/women-lead
5. IBAC chief calls for reform to stop logjam in courts
6. Cr O'Keeffe resigns position as Mayor - Greater Shepparton City Council
7. Resignation of Mayor Stephanie Asher - City of Greater Geelong
8. 'Lack of confidence' in city's ability to deliver key projects: state
9. https://www.moyne.vic.gov.au/News-Media/Moyne-Shire-Council-appoints-new-CEO
10. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/darebin-city-council_we-welcome-the-news-that-our-acting-ceo-rachel-activity-6939805024461930497-TIEk
11. https://elpasomatters.org/2022/05/23/ci ty-manager-tommy-gonzalezs-contract-has-grown-more-lucrative-over-time-heres-what-you-need-to-know/
12. Council to proceed with sale of East Paddock to Victorian Government
13. Moreland City Council strike: Industrial action causes rubbish bin collection delay | Herald Sun
14. $10 to save controversial banana statue's skin? Not a-peeling, says council
15.

Support the show

To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

VLGA Connect, Episode 278:
It's the morning after the night before.... Chris and Steve reflect on the LGPro Conference Awards night and dinner, including multiple award wins for Gannawarra Shire; feedback to share from recent episodes; a contentious land sale proposal attracting attention at Macedon Ranges; new local government ministers at the federal level; a shortage of professional staff having an impact across the sector; the WA Local Government Minister comes out strongly about a decision of Perth City Council; senior executive news, and lots more. Brought to you by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.

Support the show

To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

VLGA Connect, Episode 277
Hume City Council's Health Champions program has been awarded at the Welcoming Cities Awards, announced at the recent symposium in Canberra.
In this episode, we find out more about the program, the challenges it sought to overcome, and its ultimate successes from Julie Andrews and Liz Shield.

Support the show

To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

On the weekly Governance Update, sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers, Chris and Steve reflect on the federal election campaign from a local government perspective; lots of CEO level developments around the state; councils in the news over school gates and golf courses,  and much more to discuss.

Support the show

To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

Governance Update: VLGA Connect Episode 275
This week on the Governance Update, sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers:
68 of 79 councils recognise IDAHOBIT Day;
The culture project Insights Report is out;
One council begins a process to hand back stolen lands, while another moves ahead with a renaming process;
Federal election campaign outcomes and more work to be done to ensure local government gets its fair share;
A couple of interesting developments at Council meetings this week;
and much more in the weekly dissection of council happenings with Chris Eddy and Steve Cooper.

Links:
Darebin council plan to give Melbourne 'stolen land' to traditional Aboriginal owners | Herald Sun

Renaming Moreland

How swimming pool project promises from the last federal election could plunge local councils into debt - ABC News

Councils secure billions for our communities - Australian Local Government Association

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/john-carey-mla-3223b617b_transparency-of-council-meetings-council-activity-6932930366458474496-hCjU

https://www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/news/cumberland-city-council-launches-anti-violence-campaign-its-not-ok-abuse-council-staff

Support the show

To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

VLGA Connect, Episode 274:
Joining Chris Eddy on VLGA Connect is Felicity Macchion, Manager of Libraries at Yarra City Council, to talk about the innovative Open Library concept that has been introduced to two of Yarra's libraries over recent months. Library members who have gone through an induction process are able to access library services during unserviced hours, in a model of service that is attracting attention from across the library sector.

Support the show

To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

VLGA Connect, Governance Update - Episode 273
This week on the Governance Update with Chris Eddy and Stephen Cooper, auditor generals in two states find room for improvement in Council fraud and audit processes; a loss in the Supreme Court for Hume City Council; election signage issues abound; Council meeting times in the news; an alleged murderer elected to a town board; and a special guest appearance from Andrew Gunter, Special Counsel at Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.

Links:
Vic Auditor General Report - local government grants
QLD Auditor General Report - Local Government 2021
West Wimmera Update to Flag Flying Policy
Hume - Supreme Court decision
Council potentially infringes third party campaign rights
SA Council - dispute over council meeting times
Pressure on Port Hedland Mayor to resign
Board members should 'channel their inner ferret'
Alleged murderer elected to town board
A solution in search of a problem...

Support the show

To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

VLGA Connect, Episode 272:
On today's episode, Chris Eddy is joined by Shannon Smyth and Dian Lipiarski from Sustainability Victoria, to talk about the Recycled First Local Government Program, and how is connecting councils with resources and information to buy recycled product and participate in the circular economy.

Support the show

To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999