COUNCIL REFORM

Tasmania will cut 50 elected positions from local councils under a major statewide reform.

Local Government Minister Kerry Vincent said on Friday councils will be capped at nine members in urban areas and seven elsewhere, reducing total councillors from 263 to 213.

The changes follow public consultation and aim to attract “high-quality” candidates while addressing Tasmania’s high councillor numbers and low allowances.

The reforms, which still need to pass both houses of parliament, are expected to be in place before October’s elections. .... CLICK HERE TO SEE AND READ MORE

COMMENT ... Sadly the aMinister seems to be backing away from three of the of the most needed reforms:

• ... Removing the disproportionate power of GMS/CEOs Local Govt's unrepresentative service providers who under SECTION62/2 of the Act can do anything convenient and invoke operational 'confidentiality' rendering too much of what they opauic and unaccountable to acouncil's constituency; and

 • ... Provide fo Citizens Juries/Assemblies to enable meaningful community consultation relative to strategifc determinations and policybdecision making; and

• ... Ensuring that self-nominateed elected representatives are functioanlally 'represetaentative' of precincts/zones/wards/division  to ensure the governed have better access to 'their' representative and ultimately all elected 'representatives'.