Representation Review
The Local Government Act 1999, requires a council to conduct a review of its area in respect to the composition and structure of the council, at least once in every eight (8) years. The Council previously conducted a Representation Review in 2001-2002.
The purpose of the Representation Review is to determine whether a council's community would benefit from an alteration to its composition or ward structure, to ensure that structures will be in place to provide for effective and efficient governance to meet current and future community requirements.
All aspects of the Council's composition and electoral structures must be considered including:
* the number of Elected Members;
* the division of the area into wards and/or whether the division of the area into wards
should be abolished; and
* ward quotas.
The Council currently comprises a Mayor and 15 Elected Members, with the City divided into 7 Wards. However as part of the Review process the Council must consider whether this is the best governance structure for the organisation in the future.
The Representation Review must also take into account the following principles which are set out in the Act:
* changes should benefit ratepayers;
* arrangements should reflect communities of interest, values and aspirations and
avoid significant dis-locations within the community;
* community members should be able to participate effectively in decisions about
local matters; and
* the Council is able to co-operate with other councils and provide effective local
governance.
The Local Government Act 1999 (the Act), provides the framework for councils to fully consider and consult with their communities on the various alternatives for their representation structure and to determine whether changes are required or not.
The Council commenced its Representation Review in July 2008, with a series of workshops to examine and consider a range of options that could be put in place for the future composition and structure of the Council.
At its meeting held in June 2009, the Council adopted the Representation Review Options Paper, which included a range of possible options for the future composition and structure of the Council, for the purpose of conducting community consultation.
Members of the community were invited to provide feedback in relation to their preferred Option for the future composition and structure of the Council. Four (4) submissions were received, with all four submissions indicating their support for the retention of the Mayor and a Ward structure as opposed to Area Councillors. All four (4) submissions however also indicated their support for a reduction in the number of Elected Members, with three (3) supporting a thirteen (13) Elected Member and the Mayor composition and one (1) supporting eleven (11) Elected Members and the Mayor.
Following consideration of the feedback and the various possible options for the future composition of the Council, the Council proposed to retain the current structure and composition of the Council as follows:
1. The position of Mayor be retained;
2. There continue to be Wards;
3. There continue to be Ward Councillors and no Area Councillors;
4. The number of Elected Members remain at 15 and the Mayor
(making a total of 16 Elected Members); and
5. The current Ward structure of 7 wards and the existing Ward names to remain.
A Representation Review Report was prepared outlining the Council's endorsed position as indicated above.
The Review Report was made available for community consultation and at the conclusion of the community consultation period, four (4) submissions were received regarding the Review Report.
Two (2) of the submissions supported the retention of the current structure and composition of the Council with the other two (2) submissions maintaining their support for the reduction in the number of Elected Members and the number of Wards.
Following consideration of the feedback, the Council resolved that:
1. The position of Mayor be retained;
2. There continue to be Ward Councillors and no Area Councillors;
3. The number of Elected Members be reduced to 13 Elected Members and the Mayor
(making a total of 14 Elected Members); and
4. There continue to be Wards, with a total of 6 Wards.
Subsequently, the Council prepared its Final Report which was forwarded to the Electoral Commission SA for certification. The Final Report details the Review process, public consultation undertaken and additional information regarding the proposal for the future structure and composition of the Council, (as shown above), which the Council considered should be carried into effect.
On 14 December 2009, the Electoral Commissioner issued the certificate that the Representation Review has been conducted appropriately and complied with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1999.
A notice was placed in the Government Gazette 17 December 2009 edition to indicate that the Council had completed the Representation Review and to advise of the new composition and structure of the Council.
To downlod a copy of the Representation Review Final Report - A Report to the Electoral Commissioner October 2009, click here.
The new composition and structure will come into effect for the November 2010 Local Government elections.
