19 July 2023 Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda Item # 14 Sustainability Framework for Local Governments Page 121
Category : General News
19 July 2023 Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda Item # 14 Sustainability Framework for Local Governments Page 121
Financial Management (Sustainability) Guideline – Guideline 2023, Version 1
Sustanability Framework for Queensland Local Governments (as instructed by Queensland State Government)
I was completely appalled by contents of this latest review carried out by State Government. I read the following summary (of my thoughts) at the Ordinary Council Meeting on 19 July 2023.
I would encourage all sitting Councillors and anyone who is considering to stand for the next Local Government Elections on 16th March 2024 to acquaint themselves with this document. The publication is comprehensive and well presented.
I have been involved with local government for some 45 years and this is to me is a real game changer. Local government has faced ongoing change I think from memory forever, and in fact, change and dealing with change has been one constant part of our sector. This change will be challenging to say the least.
As the report says:-
“Queensland has one of the most diverse local government sectors in Australia, covering a large geographic area. Across the State, individual councils face a unique set of financial, service delivery and community need circumstances and are impacted by a wide range of social and economic drivers”.
All Councillors must comply with the local government principles when making decisions for their communities. There are layers and layers of legislation, processes and policies, some unique to each local government area, and councillors must understand and abide by each of these, and it is so easy to wind up on the wrong side of it all, and ignorance is no excuse.
Good luck to you all, and I feel it is all due to unintended consequences.
SOMERSET REGIONAL COUNCIL – Officer’s Report
To:
Andrew Johnson, Chief Executive Officer
From:
Geoffrey Smith, Director Finance
Director:
Geoffrey Smith, Director Finance
Date:
3 July 2023
Subject:
Sustainability Framework for Local Governments
File Ref:
Government Relations – State and Federal Government Liaison – 2022 – 2025 – State and Federal Government Departments – Liaison
Action Officer:
DFIN
Background/Summary
The Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning (DSDILGP) has written advising of the following new documents:
Financial Management (Sustainability) Guideline 2023 version 1. This guideline has statutory backing in the Local Government Regulation 2012 and is based on clear, quantifiable, auditable measures of a council’s performance with objective pass or fail criteria. Information required for the financial sustainability measures are drawn from audited financial statements. Performance measures under the new guideline are published as part of Council’s adopted FY2024 budget.
A local government sustainability framework about non-financial matters which does not have statutory backing and which has no clear or quantifiable performance measures or objective pass or fail criteria. The Department will monitor council performance through channels such as media reports and community submissions.
A letter from Council to the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) of 13 January 2023 is attached outlining uncertainties about the non-financial sustainability criteria.
Appendices A and B of the Sustainability Framework for Queensland Local Governments outline how the State intends enforcing the sustainability framework including the use of potential Statutory intervention powers outlined in sections 115, 117, 118, 121, 122 and 123 of the Local Government Act 2009 (see page 27 of 30).
Attachments
Letter from Mr Mike Kaiser, Director-General, DSDILGP of 30 June 2023
Financial Management (Sustainability) Guideline 2023 version 1
Sustainability Framework for Queensland Local Governments
Risk framework for financial sustainability
Local Government Sustainability Framework frequently asked questions
Letter from Council to the LGAQ of 13 January 2023
Recommendation
THAT the report about the sustainability framework for Queensland local government outlined in a letter from Mr Mike Kaiser, Director-General, Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning of 30 June 2023 and attachments be received and the contents noted.
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