City of Burnside Candidate Briefing

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Topic Outline

• About the City of Burnside • Introduction to Local Government • Roles and Functions of Council • Role of Elected Members • Role of CEO and Staff • What if I am Elected? • How do I nominate?

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The City of Burnside

• Estimated Population: 44,500 res • Area: 2,752 ha • Annual Operating Budget: $40.9m • Total Asset Value: $622m • Major Facilities: combined Civic Centre / Library / Ballroom / Burnside

Community Centre • Two other Community Centres (Dulwich and Eastwood) • Two works Depots (one major, one minor) • George Bolton Swimming Centre • 113 Parks and Reserves (199.43ha of open space) • 38 Council owned and managed Playgrounds • 34 Halls for Hire, community buildings etc • Plus roads, footpaths, kerbing, stormwater infrastructure etc • ~35,000 estimated street trees • ~15,000 plus trees in open space areas etc

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More than Roads, Rates and Rubbish….

• Abandoned Vehicles • Aged and Social Care • Animal Management • Asset and Facilities

Management • Bushfire Risk

Management • By-Law enforcement • City Planning • Playgrounds

• Community Arts

(Pepper Street) • Community

Engagement • Community

Development • Community Transport • Development

Assessment • Environment

Management • Footpaths • Freedom of Information • Home Library • Library Services • Parks and Reserves

• Recreation Facilities • Risk Management and

Emergency Planning • Road Construction and

Maintenance • Stormwater

Management • Strategic Planning • Street Clean • Tree Management • Volunteers • Waste Removal Services • Youth Services • And much more!

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Introduction to Local Government

Three spheres of Government in Australia: • Federal – powers as set out in the constitution • State – powers derived from Federal and State

Constitutions • Local – State Government sets out the legal

framework for Councils

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City of Burnside Positions Available at the November 2014 Election

• Mayor • 2 Ward Councillors: Beaumont Ward • 2 Ward Councillors: Burnside Ward • 2 Ward Councillors: Eastwood and Glenunga Ward • 2 Ward Councillors: Kensington Gardens and Magill Ward • 2 Ward Councillors: Kensington Park Ward • 2 Ward Councillors: Rose Park and Toorak Gardens Ward

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Principal Role of Council

• to act as a representative, informed and responsible decision-maker in the interests of its community; and

• to provide and co-ordinate various public services and facilities and to develop its community and resources in a socially just and ecologically sustainable manner; and

• to encourage and develop initiatives within its community for improving the quality of life of the community; and

• to represent the interests of its community to the wider community; and

• to exercise, perform and discharge the powers, functions and duties of local government under this and other Acts in relation to the area for which it is constituted.

(S6 Local Government Act, 1999)

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Functions of Council

• to plan at the local and regional level for the development and future requirements of its area;

• to provide services and facilities that benefit its area, its ratepayers and residents, and visitors to its area (including general public services or facilities (including electricity, gas and water services, and waste collection, control or disposal services or facilities), health, welfare or community services or facilities, and cultural or recreational services or facilities);

• to provide for the welfare, well-being and interests of individuals and groups within its community;

• to take measures to protect its area from natural and other hazards and to mitigate the effects of such hazards;

• to manage, develop, protect, restore, enhance and conserve the environment in an ecologically sustainable manner, and to improve amenity;

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Functions of Council (cont.)

• to provide infrastructure for its community and for development within its area (including infrastructure that helps to protect any part of the local or broader community from any hazard or other event, or that assists in the management of any area);

• to promote its area and to provide an attractive climate and locations for the development of business, commerce, industry and tourism;

• to establish or support organisations or programs that benefit people in its area or local government generally;

• to manage and, if appropriate, develop, public areas vested in, or occupied by, the council;

• to manage, improve and develop resources available to the council; • to undertake other functions and activities conferred by or under an

Act. (S7 Local Government Act, 1999)

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Role of the Mayor

The role of the principal member of a Council is: • to preside at meetings of the Council; • if requested, to provide advice to the Chief Executive

Officer between Council meetings on the implementation of a decision of the Council;

• to act as the principal spokesperson of the Council; • to exercise other functions of the Council as the Council

determines; • to carry out the civic and ceremonial duties of the office of

principal member. (S58, Local Government Act, 1999)

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Role of Elected Members

As a member of the governing body of the Council: • to participate in the deliberations and civic activities of the Council; • to keep the Council's objectives and policies under review to ensure

that they are appropriate and effective; • to keep the Council's resource allocation, expenditure and activities,

and the efficiency and effectiveness of its service delivery, under review;

• to ensure, as far as is practicable, that the principles set out in section 8 are observed;

as a person elected to the Council—to represent the interests of residents and ratepayers, to provide community leadership and guidance, and to facilitate communication between the community and the Council. (S59 Local Government Act, 1999) 11

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Role of Elected Members

In practice this means: • Participate in Council meetings in accordance with formal meeting

rules • Read and analyse reports and recommendations, including financial,

environmental and social reports prior to meetings • Be available to members of the community who wish to raise

community or Council issues • Contribute to Council's strategic directions and governance • May be appointed to DAP, Subsidiary Boards etc • Elected Members have no direct authority over Council employees

(except the CEO) with respect to the way in which the employee performs his or her duties

• Abide by the Code of Conduct for Elected Members 12

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Role of CEO and staff

• The CEO is responsible for all operational matters, staff matters and for ensuring Council's plans, policies and decisions are implemented

• The CEO is responsible for staff management The CEO and staff: • provide advice of a professional, technical or social nature • assist Elected Members in the policy and decision making process • action the Business of Council on behalf of the Elected Body • provide for good management of Council's resources and ensure

services are effective • operate within the policies of Council (Excerpt from S99-110, Local Government Act, 1999)

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What if I am elected?

• 4 year term • Tuesday 18 November – swearing in • Thursday 20 November – Elected Member training • Tuesday 25 November – first meeting – legislatively

required policies, appointments, etc. • Tuesday 9 December – first business meeting • Strategic Planning Day and further training in

January / February 2015

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What if I am Elected? (cont.)

Formal and informal duties of Elected Members can be a high commitment. In addition to Council meetings… • there are civic activities and community events to

attend • community members may ask for assistance (your

name address and phone number will be publically available as a contact point)

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What if I am Elected? (cont.)

• Voluntary position with a legislated allowance (as of November 2014)

• Mayor: $63,600 per annum • Ward Councillor: $15,900 per annum • Some appointments (subsidiaries, DAP) have a

sitting fee • Members may claim expenses in line with Elected

Members Allowance and Benefits Policy

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What if I am Elected? (cont.)

Legal Responsibilities:

• Code of Conduct • Register of Interests • Conflict of Interest • Civil liability protection for Members • Campaign Donation Returns – whether you are

elected or not!

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How do I nominate?

• Nomination packs are available tonight and at the Civic Centre front desk during office hours. More information is available on the website

• www.burnside.sa.gov.au • Nominations are accepted at the Civic Centre front desk

during office hours 2 September 2014 to midday 16 September 2014.

• Specific staff have been trained to accept nominations – please ask for them.

• Staff role is “post box” for the Electoral Commission. • Don’t leave it too late to nominate!

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