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Best Practice and the Local Government Development Program

The Commonwealth Government seeks to support Councils in their quest for best practice. It does so primarily through the Local Government Development Program (LGDP). Managed by the National Office of Local Government (NOLG), the LGDP aims to develop Local Government's contribution to the social, cultural and economic well-being of the community, particularly in regional Australia.

The LGDP supports projects which are designed to achieve best practice in particular areas of Council activity, such as building approval. It also assists with projects that explore ways of measuring the efficiency and effectiveness of Council services and allows Councils to compare notes with each other. This article briefly showcases some LGDP projects which are about achieving best practice. Throughout the year, the NOLG intends to produce further publications about the LGDP and best practice.

Best Practice/Benchmarking in Local Approvals

SHOROC, a regional organisation of Councils comprising the NSW Councils of Manly, Warringah, Pittwater and Mosman, have been involved in a 12 month benchmarking study to identify ways to improve their efficiency and effectiveness in building and development approval processes. The approvals process refers to all aspects of development and building approval, including the State Government's legislative and policy framework and the policies, practices and performance of the individual Councils.

The project has:

• investigated current approval processes and practices within the four SHOROC Councils;
• compared the performance of these Councils with a selection of other Councils in NSW and Australia;
• involved consultation with key stakeholders including applicants, residents, Councillors, Council staff, State Government officers; and
• reviewed the current legislative framework for the approvals process in NSW and specifically the provisions of the NSW Government White Paper and draft legislation on integrated development assessment released in February 1997, setting out proposals to reform the legislative framework for local approvals.

Copies of the project reports or further information on the project can be obtained from SHOROC by contacting: Simon Ladd, SHOROC, Civic Centre, 725 Pittwater Road, Dee Why NSW 2099.

Wyong Shire Council Benchmarking Project

Wyong, Liverpool, Sutherland, Gosford and Newcastle Councils in NSW are benchmarking their civil engineering design, civil infrastructure maintenance and building maintenance functions with the aim of saving $1m to $3m pa from improved service delivery. Performance data has been collected and validated, process mapping is complete and site visits to benchmarking partners have occurred. The project is now analysing possible service improvements.

For further information please contact the project leader at Wyong, Ken Bulkely: Tel (043) 50 5238 Fax (043) 51 2098.

Environmental Values of Water Supply Study - ACTEW

This project involves an investigation into the environmental costs of water supply. It followed the ACT Future Water Supply Strategy that nominated (conservation) consumption reduction targets of 15%, 25% and 35% to be achieved by 2000, 2010 and 2020 respectively. This would require price reform, education programs and further research into reuse of water. The study has broad relevance to Australian regional water utilities and Local Government in testing state of the art environmental resource valuation methodology. The production of the final report, A study to assess environmental values associated with water supply options, is now underway. The study results are transferable to other regions in Australia especially value trade-offs and consultative ways to make impartial choices between expressed values.

For further information please contact Bill Leane, at ACTEW Coporation Tel (06) 248 3290 Fax (06) 248 3826.

Benchmarking Children's Services

Parramatta City Council has conducted a benchmarking study to identify effective and efficient practice in long day child care services. The study involved benchmarking with 13 partners, 12 within the child care industry and one external to the industry, and covered quality, cost and customer satisfaction aspects of the child care service provided.

Copies of the project report or further information on the project can be obtained from: Fran Kendrick, Parramatta City Council, PO Box 32, Parramatta NSW 2124 Tel (02) 9806 5111 Fax (02) 9806 5914.

Pine Rivers Benchmarking Workshop Project

This national benchmarking project involves nine Councils from Queensland, NSW, Victoria and SA in data gathering and comparison, development of performance indicators and training of Council staff in benchmarking. The ten areas being studied are libraries, waste collection, request response times, workers compensation, building and development applications, plant utilisation, supply, Geographic Information Systems, community facilities and infrastructure planning.

For further information please contact the Project Co-ordinator at Pine Rivers Shire, Russell Garske: Tel (07) 3205 0564 Fax (07) 3205 0758.

Approvals System Benchmarking Project

The Blacktown, Baulkham Hills, Fairfield and Liverpool councils from the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils Ltd, WSROC, are developing a regional benchmarking framework for achieving best practice in land and building development approval systems. An important outcome of the project will be practical strategies for improved performance which can be implemented within a framework of ongoing reform. In order to ensure ownership of and commitment to the framework a detailed consultative approach has been taken to bring together key agencies and stakeholders.

For further information on this project contact: Mark Andrews, Assistant Director, WSROC PO Box 63, Blacktown NSW 2148 Tel (02) 9671 4333 Fax (02) 9621 7741.

Promoting a Continuous Improvement Culture in Local Government

The NSW Local Government and Shires Associations (LGSA) have been actively involved in promoting the use of benchmarking as a continuous improvement tool. During 1996 and continuing in 1997 the LGSA have run a number of benchmarking workshops entitled "Benchmarking for Success" for Councillors and Council staff in NSW. In addition the LGSA is developing an interactive Electronic Best Practice Interchange. The Interchange will be accessible via the Internet and will store information relating to benchmarking and best practice projects relevant to Local Government. It will also allow Councils interested in benchmarking and best practice to select partners and communicate with each other via discussion forums. Only NSW Councils will be able to enter material on the Interchange, however anyone with Internet access will be able to access the information. It is anticipated that the Interchange, to be known as "Towards Best Practice", will be operational later this year. Watch out for it on the LGSA's website, www.lgsa.org.au

Further information can be obtained from: Lorraine Slade, Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW, GPO Box 7003, Sydney NSW 2001 Tel (02) 9242 4000 Fax (02) 9242 4111 or E-mail lslade@lgsa.org.au

Building Bundjalung Cultural Bridges (BBCB) Project

This project aims to identify and implement the most cost effective and ongoing way for the Lismore City Council (LCC) to communicate with the local Indigenous communities, so as to increase Indigenous participation in issues of concern to both the LCC and Indigenous Communities, including increased access to Local Government services. The cornerstone of the Project has been the employment by the Council in May 1996 of two Aboriginal Community Development Workers (ACDW) who are responsible for the implementation of the project. The two ACDW's, with very strong support from the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and other Council employees, have already achieved some very favourable outcomes. There are currently 17 LGDP projects being managed by NOLG that relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All projects provide examples that other communities and Local Governments around Australia could follow.

For further information please contact: Tricia Shantz at Lismore City Council Tel (066) 250 547 Fax (066) 250 400.

Plant Management Reform

The Local Government Association of Queensland has reviewed plant management strategies in Queensland Councils. The Study is identifying best practice in plant management strategies and developing decision making models for Councils to use in adopting best practice methods. The study has also included the production of a suite of training material and the introduction of an intensive training program for Queensland Councils.

For further information please contact: Desirae French, Local Government Association of Queensland, PO Box 2230, Fortitude Valley BC QLD 4006 Tel (07) 3334 2230 Fax (07) 3252 4473 or E-mail desirae_french@lgaq.asn.au

Benchmarking for Performance Assessment of Local Government

The South Australian Local Government Reform Board has developed a set of performance indicators to:

• assist the Board to assess the performance of Councils which did not participate in the voluntary review of Local Government boundaries, and
• support the Local Government Ministers' Conference commitment to provide the Commonwealth with data on the performance of Councils.

Indicators for 25 program areas have been developed in a logical framework based on the objective of the service provided. The indicators measure effectiveness, efficiency and resource sufficiency.

Copies of the indicators and further information on the process used in their development can be obtained from: Gwyn Rimmington, Office of Local Government, GPO Box 667, Adelaide SA 5001 Tel (08) 8207 0623 Fax (08) 8207 0679.

Benchmarking Manual Available

Benchmarking for Local Government - A practical guide explains why benchmarking is a valuable tool for Councils in improving efficiency and effectiveness. Released in October 1995, the guide provides a step-by-step approach to undertaking a benchmarking study and has been extensively trialed with pilot councils throughout Australia. The guide comprises nine, fully detailed modules in both hard copy and Word for Windows files on 3.5 inch diskettes. The Manual was developed with funding from the Local Government Ministers' Conference Activities Fund.

Copies of the Guide can be obtained at a cost of $60.00 from: Information Victoria, 356 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Tel 03 9651 4100 Toll free 1800 13 6762 Fax 03 9651 4111.

The following articles are also included in this edition or go BACK to the main page: