An update for residents on the Minister’s new proposal for reform in the Metropolitan Area, and an opportunity for you to have your say.

From the Mayor

In this special edition of the Bassendean Briefings you will find an overview of the recent history of local government reform in Western Australia and an outline of the current local government reform process.

The Town of Bassendean Council is dedicated to engaging in strong community consultation and, with the future of local government so uncertain, it is paramount that the Council is informed of the community’s views and opinions.

The Council is seeking your feedback on where you see the Town of Bassendean in the coming years. There is a form on the back of this newsletter for you to fill out and return to the Town of Bassendean Council.

It is very important that you take the time to read the information provided in this newsletter and return the form on the back by Friday, 23 September with your preferred option for the future of the Town of Bassendean.

Responses from our community will be presented to the Local Government Reform Panel when they meet with the Town of Bassendean Reform Steering Committee.

Your response will also shape the future direction for the Town of Bassendean.

Thank you for your support.

Kind regards,
Cr John Gangell
Mayor

Local Government Reform

Residents of the Town may be aware from comments in the press that the Minister for Local Government has recently announced a new agenda for Local Government Reform in the metropolitan area of Perth, to replace the failed reform process put in place in 2009.

The Town is committed to keeping its residents informed at all stages of the new process, and wants to provide every opportunity for you to provide feedback to your Council on the options that might be available to the Town as this reform process unfolds. The Town will continue to provide further updates in this format as time passes.

It is important for residents to note that, as a result of the Minister’s announcement, the recent proposal by the City of Bayswater to seek a boundary adjustment to take in all of the Town of Bassendean is now not being considered. The Minister confirmed this in response to a question by the Mayor at the Minister’s public announcement on the new Reform Agenda on the 24 June 2011.

So what is the new Reform Process?

The following is a copy of the Minister’s announcement made on 24 June 2011:

Friday 24 June 2011

Landmark Review of Local Government Boundaries in Perth

Local Government Minister John Castrilli today announced the appointment of a high level independent panel to examine the social, economic and environmental challenges facing Perth.

The panel will be responsible for recommending appropriate boundaries and governance models for local governments in the Perth metropolitan area.

The eminent panel will be chaired by Professor Alan Robson, vice chancellor of The University of Western Australia. Other members are Dr Peter Tannock, former vice chancellor of the University of Notre Dame Australia and Dr Sue van Leeuwen, chief executive officer of Leadership WA.

Mr Castrilli said the panel offered a vast amount of knowledge, experience and expertise as leaders in academic and business circles in Western Australia.

“I am delighted they have agreed to assist the State in this momentous review,” he said.

“For the first time we will consider the future and identify the challenges and opportunities.”

The review’s terms of reference are to:

Identify current and anticipated specific regional, social, environmental and economic issues affecting, or likely to affect, the growth of metropolitan Perth in the next 50 years;
Identify current and anticipated national and international factors likely to impact in the next 50 years;
Research improved local government structures, and governance models and structures for the Perth metropolitan area, drawing on national and international experience and examining key issues relating to community representation, engagement, accountability and State imperatives among other things the panel may identify during the course of the review;
Identify new local government boundaries and a resultant reduction in the overall number of local governments to better meet the needs of the community;
Prepare options to establish the most effective local government structures and governance models that take into account matters identified through the review including, but not limited to, community engagement, patterns of demographic change, regional and State growth and international factors which are likely to impact; and
Present a limited list of achievable options together with a recommendation on the preferred option.

The Minister said it would be the panel’s objective to submit recommendations to him by June 2012 on optimal local government structures or governance, resulting in the drawing of new local government boundaries.

The panel would directly engage with the Perth community, local governments, peak bodies, and government agencies and departments.

Two advisory groups would provide expert advice to the panel. One would consist of the directors general of the departments of Local Government and Planning. The president and vice-president of the Western Australian Local Government Association would also be invited to advise the panel.”

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