Reform Update - May 2008

Reform Update May 2008

Since the appointment of Shire Chief Executive Officers early in the year the transition to New Local Government has moved steadily towards the official start on July 1.

The CEOs will be assisted in their jobs by the introduction of new business systems, which are expected to be fully operational by the start-up date.

To ensure the effectiveness of the new business systems, three major training centres were set up in Darwin. At least 30 key personnel from the eight shires undertook training in the new business systems. A system developed by Queensland-based firm Technology One was chosen through the tendering process.

More than $12 million of Australian and Northern Territory Government funds is being spent on the roll-out of business systems and training for the Shires.

The commencement of the training program in early May followed weeks of intense business planning by the new Shire CEOs and Directors of Corporate and Community Services with Local Government Department  staff .

Business plans drafted in December are now reaching the second stage, with CEOs and senior Shire staff responsible for the drafting. The drafts will be made available by the end of May.

Negotiations are in the final stages of completion with Australian and Northern Territory Government agencies over the Shires’ roles in distributing and administering agency funding. Agreements are being  reached with agencies over:

• housing repairs and maintenance
• community patrols
• sport and recreation
• aged care
• child care
• Centrelink
• Power, water and sewerage

CEOs have been travelling to remote and rural communities to make offers of employment to those that have been working for Community Government and Association Councils. It has been a case of job-matching for most employees as they transfer to the Shire structure.

Where job-matching has not been possible, as has been the case with a number of the senior staff, the job has been advertised on the open market.

All Shires have lodged Workplace Agreements as the basis of employment, and from July 1 unions will be invited to participate in future collective agreements.

A number of experienced Indigenous staff have been employed as mentors in the Shires for young Indigenous workers. One of the key principles of the reform process is to provide an increase in employment among Indigenous people.

The issue of CDEP funding is being settled, with Shires set to manage CDEP programs previously delivered by local government bodies. .

Legislation for the reform process has completed its passage through the Legislative Assembly, and the new Local Government Act been given the assent by the  Administrator.

Planning is also well under way for the October elections. An interactive website-based governance package that will offer training to potential Shire Councillors is nearing completion, with the website expected to be active as early as possible after July 1.

The training package will contain information in easy-to-learn chunks, and will offer candidates a comprehensive account of how local government works and the responsibilities of Shire Councillors. It will take users into a “virtual Shire” as a means of illustrating the concepts of local government.