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Good Governance
Walking the talk about transparency and
accountability
When local government practises good governance, its communities are
more connected and engaged, better services are provided, community confidence
in council is improved, resources are better used and better outcomes achieved.
Councillors elected to local government come from
within the community and have many different interests, priorities, skills,
experience and expectations. Good governance is all about ensuring that each
local government is able to manage its many complex responsibilities
effectively, and in the best interests of its community in ways that are
transparent, accountable and just.
Governance is the process of decision making and
the process by which decisions are implemented – or not. This gets to the heart
of how local government operates as decision-making bodies and their
relationship with the administration that advises council and implements its
decisions. It also includes the ways that local government engages with its communities
in this process.
Good Governance is
a feature of local government where roles are understood, relationships are
respectful, leadership is encouraged, communities are engaged, consensus is
sought, transparency valued and the values of integrity are modeled at all
levels.
Good governance
depends on transparency, accountability and equality in ways that are
responsive to the needs of people. It is composed of the mechanisms, processes
and institutions through which citizens and groups can articulate their
interests, exercise their legal rights, meet their obligations and mediate their
differences.
Good governance underpins the Australian democratic
system of which local government forms the first level. The essential features
of good governance are:
Democratic Foundation - Local government’s
legitimacy comes from representing the interests of its local communities.
Law Abiding - Local government is constituted under
an Act of Parliament that places certain obligations of local government and
councillors
Accountable - The authority of a council as
provided for in the Local Government Act comes from the community through its
elected representatives sitting as council.
Corporate Governance - Good corporate governance
requires prudent financial management, transparency including adequate auditing
and reporting arrangements, and a high standard of budget management to ensure
financial sustainability, value for money and the proper management of risks.
Representation - Good governance involves the
concept of citizenship with its attendant rights and responsibilities and the
concept of a representative body governing on behalf of its electors and in
their best interests.
Mandate - A mandate can be drawn from policies
presented to the community in the election process, by the development of
Community Plans and the engagement of and consultation with citizens.
Policy Development - A local government’s Council
Plan must make clear the council’s strategic objectives and strategies for
achieving those objectives. Each local government must determine its own
performance indicators consistent with its community’s priorities.
Engagement and Participation - Local government
must seek community understanding and involvement in governance through
effective communication with its communities.
Mayor and councillors articulate the collective
aspirations of the community, and provide a source of inspiration for council
staff and the community. The role of mayor as chair of council and community
leader is crucial to effective relationships with the administration and to
good governance.
Culture of respect - Councillors and officers have
different but complementary roles. Good Governance requires that the
differences are understood, valued and respected.
Decision Making - Good Governance requires well
chaired and well conducted council meetings where all councillors are able to
contribute.
Effective Management - A local government’s
functional responsibilities are carried out through locally agreed
organisational arrangements consistent with the Local Government Act. The chief
executive officer is responsible to council for the effectiveness of those
arrangements in achieving council’s goals in accordance with council’s
priorities and approved budget.
