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Municipal Association of Victoria

BULLETIN

All your local government news this week

Issue 1101: 3 November 2016
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Strategic priorities
  • Election results: Council election results have been announced and it’s pleasing to see an increase in female councillors as well as first time councillors. A full summary of results is available below.
  • Councillor induction kits: New and returning councillors across Victoria will receive an MAV induction pack with a range of helpful materials. Induction packs will be posted following our Councillor Induction Day on 24 November (attendees will receive their pack on the day). The pack includes a resource guide for new councillors, an overview of MAV policy areas and a councillor development program training guide. Read more about our Induction Day below. Registrations are also now open for our 2016 Mayoral Program.

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The MAV has thoroughly analysed all election results and is pleased to see a 14 per cent increase in female councillors (from 212 in 2012 and 243 in 2016). Through our Stand for Council campaign we aimed to increase diversity among candidates and elected councillors, so this is a great result. Other key highlights include:
  • 314 of 637 vacancies were filled by incumbent councillors, 323 are new councillors and 152 contesting councillors were defeated
  • 243 or 38.1 per cent of all councillors elected are women, up from 34 per cent in 2012
  • All 78 councils have women councillors
  • Fifteen councils have a majority of women councillors: Brimbank (7/11), Corangamite (5/7), Darebin (6/9), Greater Bendigo (5/9), Indigo (4/7), Macedon Ranges (5/9), Manningham (5/9), Maribyrnong (5/7), Melton (5/9), Moonee Valley (5/9), Murrindindi (5/7), Stonnington (5/9), Surf Coast (5/9), Whitehorse (6/10), Yarra (5/9)
  • 47 incumbent mayors were returned, 15 mayors retired, and 14 contesting mayors were defeated.

Once new councillors have settled into their roles we will conduct our councillor census to gain a better understanding of the characteristics of councillors in 2016 including age, ethnicity, religion and occupation.

Our full election results analysis is available online.

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It is with great sadness that we farewell our MAV President, Bill McArthur, who was not re-elected in Golden Plains Shire. Bill has been a dedicated and passionate councillor for 23 years, and an effective MAV President for nearly eight years.

Bill leaves a long legacy of accomplishments achieved during his time as MAV President. This includes the landmark signing of the Victorian State-Local Government Agreement, the establishment of MAV Procurement and Australia’s first municipal bonds, plus representing the sector at the Bushfires Royal Commission.

Under Bill’s leadership, significant funding wins for the sector were also achieved including restoration of 50:50 funding partnerships for maternal and child health services, and a fairer planning fees regime. He will be sadly missed.

We will also be saying farewell to MAV Board Member Helen Coleman, who was no re-elected in Nillumbik. Helen has been a passionate member of the MAV Board since her election in early 2015. She has also dedicated 12 years in her councillor role to the Nillumbik community, and served two terms as mayor.

An interim MAV President will be decided by the MAV Board at its meeting on 11 November.

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The 28 councils participating in MAV Procurement’s LEAP program collectively spent over $1.79 billion in 2014/15.

Analysis of local spend across the 28 councils shows the following:

  • Average local spend (within own LGA): 34 per cent
  • Average spend rest of Victoria: 53 per cent
  • Average spend rest of Australia: 12 per cent
  • Minimum local spend (within own LGA): 8 per cent
  • Maximum local spend (within own LGA): 70 per cent

The MAV LEAP Program is a low-cost, ongoing continuous improvement program available to all Victorian councils that uses real data and evidence to improve council procurement capability and performance, and enables structured collaboration across the sector.

For more information on the LEAP program, contact Rachel Ferretto.

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Following release of the State Government’s Animal Industries Advisory Committee’s Final Report, the MAV has been appointed to the government’s Interdepartmental Steering Committee to provide advice on implementing the recommendations over the short, medium and longer term.

To inform our representation, and to provide an avenue for State departments to seek technical advice on the priorities identified in the response, we are establishing a technical working group and seeking nominations from senior local government staff to participate.

The group is expected to meet three times over the next 12 months and may be required to provide comment out of session on planning priorities identified in the government's response. A copy of the Terms of Reference for the working group has been sent by the MAV to all members.

Please send through details of your experience with intensive animal industries to Michelle Croughan by 11 November. Selection will be based on experience with intensive animal industries and location. The first meeting of the working group will occur in late November.

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We are calling on members to provide feedback on the Victorian Government’s Community Renewable Energy Projects discussion paper to help inform our submission.

The paper seeks to encourage communities to play an active role in delivering the government's renewable energy targets of 25 per cent by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2025.

Specifically, the paper addresses the definition of community renewable energy projects; the payment-in-lieu-of-rates methodology for community-scale projects; and the planning arrangements for community-scale wind farms.

Please contact Claire Dunn or Michelle Croughan with any feedback by 11 November. The deadline for submissions is 28 November.

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Registrations are now open for our Councillor Induction Day on 24 November.

The purpose of the day is for both new and returning councillors to obtain a greater understanding of their role and responsibilities within council.

Attendees will hear a series of presentations from the MAV Chief Executive Officer and policy staff about key areas including planning, insurance, finance (funding and rates), procurement, events and councillor development.

It will be held at the Darebin Arts Centre, Preston.

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The next round of Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard Advanced (BESS) Training will be held on 23 November.

BESS is a new-generation building sustainability tool developed by the Victorian Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment, in conjunction with input from industry.

This session focuses on residential, non-residential, mixed use and larger residential buildings. It will include case studies of a non-residential development and a mixed use multi-residential development.

It will run from 9am-4.30pm at the MAV Office, Level 11, 60 Collins Street, Melbourne. Registrations can be made online.

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  • Councils and library corporations across Victoria can now apply for part of $4.5 million of State Government funding under the Living Library Infrastructure Program. Grants of up to $750,000 are available to fund new, renovated or refurbished library buildings, or to go towards a mobile library. Applications close on 16 December.

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Digital Maturity Survey

Councils still have time to complete our Digital Maturity Survey (sent to all member councils on 4 October).

The survey is the first recommendation from our Local Government Digital Transformation Taskforce and will assist the taskforce to identify sector-wide digital transformation challenges and opportunities.

Responses to the survey should be made by corporate services directors and returned via email by 9 November. Only one response per council is required. For a copy of the survey email Lisa Bennetto.

Reminder: Water for Victoria info sessions

Councils are reminded to register for our information sessions about the State Government’s new water plan, Water for Victoria.

Sessions will cover the new Integrated Water Management Framework, which is introduced in the plan.

Sessions will be held on:

For further information contact Nicky Kindler.

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  • The Youth Affairs Council Victoria is partnering with the Victorian Government to deliver 12 youth forums across the state. The forums will help determine the agenda of the inaugural Youth Summit, to be held during National Youth Week next year.
  • The Alliance for Gambling Reform is calling for community support of its Pokies on Trial campaign. They will hold a webinar on 7 November for volunteers and supporters, which will include a campaign briefing, and campaign actions over the next month.
  • The Society of Plastics Engineers is holding its Annual Plastics and Waste Conference on 17 November. The conference will cover government policy and strategy, technology developments, and European progress in recovery and recycling of materials.
  • Ahead of the launch of the 2016 Victoria Against Violence 16 Days of Activism, the Office of Prevention and Women’s Equality will hold a live webinar on 7 November at 2pm AEST. The webinar will provide background information on the campaign and a walk-through of the campaign’s tool kit contents which will be available soon. The toolkit will assist councils to Take Action, Go Orange and will help promote local events.

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Social media and tech news...

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