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2003 National Agenda - Intergovernmental relations

  1. Local government will seek to play a leading role in ensuring that the overall system of government promotes the wellbeing of local and regional communities. This should reflect the principles of Integrated Local Area Planning (Box 2).

Partnerships

  1. Local government is committed to necessary processes of change to strengthen its position as the third sphere of government and its relationships with Commonwealth and state/territory governments.

  2. Local government supports the continuance of the Council of Australian Governments. Commonwealth, state and territory governments must accept full participation by local government in all those activities of the council and related forums in which it has a legal or financial interest.

  3. Local government recognises the ultimate responsibility of Commonwealth, state and territory governments to set objectives and establish policy frameworks for the nation, states and territories as a whole. However, the needs of local communities are addressed most appropriately when local government is accepted as a partner in developing relevant policies and programs.

  4. Local government should always be an equal partner in intergovernmental processes affecting those activities for which it carries legislative or financial responsibilities. Furthermore, as democratically elected bodies, local councils should always be consulted as the primary representatives of local communities' interests when policies and programs are being developed or reviewed.

Roles and responsibilities

  1. Working relationships between local government and other spheres are most effective when based on negotiated agreements or protocols which set out agreed objectives, roles, responsibilities, decision-making processes, procedures and financial/administrative arrangements.

  2. At the same time, the roles, responsibilities and procedures of the three spheres of government need to be more clearly defined and rationalised to avoid wasteful use of resources, poor quality services to communities, and other unsatisfactory outcomes.

  3. Reviews of roles, responsibilities and procedures should be conducted openly and cooperatively by those spheres of government involved, and should seek community input. The Council of Australian Governments can provide a suitable forum for such reviews, provided all relevant parties are involved.

  4. In the interests of local communities, local government is willing to accept transfer of additional powers and responsibilities from state and Commonwealth governments but only subject to proper negotiation of the transfer, clear definition of the roles and functions involved, and guarantees of adequate ongoing funding. Devolution of responsibilities or agency arrangements should be on the basis of negotiated agreements and subject to full funding of the service involved.

  5. Local government should receive adequate notice and be consulted regarding changes to both Federal and state/territory legislation where those changes have the potential to impact significantly on local government. Where such changes impact on local government finances are brought down after March of any year, such matters should not be applicable to local government until the following budget year.

  6. On no account should federal or state/territory governments use coercion, such as threats to withdraw grants and subsidies, as a means of forcing councils to adopt their policies.

  7. Local government seeks to work with Federal and state governments to continue to provide a solution to increasing insurance costs, especially for councils and community groups unable to access limited covers presently available.

Visits to council areas

  1. Local government requests all Federal ministers, on visiting local government areas, to observe the protocol of formally advising the council of their visit and making time available to meet with local government representatives.

Principles of integrated local area planning

The concept of Integrated Local Area Planning (ILAP) was developed by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) over the period 1990 to 1993.

Three major themes

  • The need for local councils to improve their own performance by ensuring that their various activities are effectively integrated and directed towards enhancing the overall well-being of local communities and their environments.

  • The need for partnership between the three spheres of government, local communities and the private sector to work towards establishing and achieving shared objectives for enhancing local well being.

  • The need for local government to play a leadership role in bringing about more effective strategic planning and integration of activities at the local level.

Principles

  • Local areas and communities differ, and more emphasis should be placed on devising appropriate responses to distinctive local circumstances and needs.

  • We should take a holistic view of local areas, linking related physical, environmental, economic, social and cultural issues, rather than treating them separately.

  • We need a shared understanding of key issues amongst all those concerned with the wellbeing of local communities, and, as far as possible, a shared vision of desired futures.

  • Related activities of different departments, organisations and spheres of government should be coordinated in order to address key issues and achieve desired futures.

  • More efficient and effective use of available resources is essential and unnecessary gaps or duplication between government programs should be eliminated.

  • Community involvement in planning and management processes should be increased.

Local government has a mandate to play a leading role in implementing these principles.