Review of Council's Representation Structure (First consultation)
Consultation has concluded
UPDATE
Feedback on the Representation Review from the Second Consultation was considered by Council at its meeting held on 13 June 2017. A copy of the feedback is available by clicking here. At this meeting Council confirmed and endorsed its final position on the future structure and composition as follows:
The principal is a Mayor elected by the community
That the number of Elected Members is 11 (including the Mayor)
The current no ward structure is retained.
At its meeting held on 27 June 2017 Council adopted the Final Report.
Having adopted the Representation Review Final Report(External link), it was referred to the Electoral Commissioner. A copy of the Final Report is available by clicking here(External link).
The Electoral Commissioner is currently determining whether the requirements of the Representation Review have been satisfied If the Electoral Commissioner is satisfied Council will be notified in writing of a certificate of compliance and specify a day by which Council must publish a notice in the SA Government Gazette to advise of the completed review.
Should the Electoral Commissioner find that the report does not meet the statutory requirements, Council will be provided with a written explanation as to why certification has not been met. Council must take appropriate action and may alter the report before referring it again to the Electoral Commissioner.
Council must conduct a Representation Review at least once in every eight years in accordance with Section 12 of the Local Government Act 1999 (the Act).
The review gives the Council and the community the opportunity to examine the present composition and structure of Council and provides the opportunity to plan and implement changes that will better reflect the future requirements of the community.
The review examines the following:
Council being represented by a Mayor or a Chairperson
Council being represented by Area Councillors, Ward Councillors or a combination of both
If the Council should be divided into wards
How many Council Members should represent the Community
BACKGROUND
Stages 1 and 2 (Open for Consultation until 3 March)
The first stage, the Representation Options Paper, examines the advantages and disadvantages of the options for composition and structure available to the Council.
The paper examines:
The current structure including
Cost of council
Council elections
Elector numbers
Options
Mayor or a Chairperson
Number of Councillors
Wards or whole council area
Structures
Two wards
Three wards
Naracoorte Lucindale as a whole
Assessment of the options
To view a copy of the Representation Options paper click here.
First public consultation (open for consultation until 3 March)
The Community is invited to be involved and have input into the representation review. You can have a say and make submissions on the Options Paper from 12 January 2017 until 5.30pm 3 March 2017, as follows:
Complete a survey online by clicking here or below or leave a comment in the guest book. To complete the survey online or to comment in the guest book you need to register to get involved. To register click on the brown register button. To find out more about registering click here.
Download a Response Form or collect a response form at Council’s Naracoorte and Lucindale offices. To download a Response Form click here.
Provide a written submission to Council addressed to Representation Review, Naracoorte Lucindale Council, PO Box 555, Naracoorte SA 5271 or delivered to the Naracoorte Council office, DeGaris Place, Naracoorte or the Lucindale Council office, Musgrave Avenue, Lucindale or email to council@nlc.sa.gov.au
A copy of the Representation Options paper is available for inspection and / or purchase at Council’s Naracoorte and Lucindale offices or by clicking here.
Stages 3 and 4
Representation Review Report
At the conclusion of the first consultation a Representation Review Report will be prepared that takes into consideration responses to the Options Report and sets out Council’s proposal for the future composition and structure of the Council.
Second public consultation (April 2017)
The Representation Review Report informs the public of the ‘in principle’ decision of Council and invites persons to make written submissions in response to the Council. Persons, or their representatives, who made submissions are given an opportunity to speak to their submissions before Council.
Stage 5
Final report
Council must consider any submissions received and any representations made by persons who took the opportunity to appear before Council and confirm their decision. The report is finalised and Council forwards the final report to the Electoral Commissioner for certification.
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Prefer wards.....community know there councillor if elected in a ward situation and more likely to approach them to discuss a matter. Without wards the councillors are a group of interested/competent people elected to the position and there may be an over representation of councillors in a particular area. eg town. Wards offer a better/more diverse representation of the whole district. It may encourage more interest by community people to elect and support there candidate rather than perhaps a "ho hum" approach....nobody listens to us out here so why bother!!!