Our recent ‘Meet the Candidates’ session run in co-operation with the Kensington Residents’ Association was an informative and interesting evening. We heard from the ward and Mayoral nominees who were then subjected to some vigorous questioning by the assembled crowd.
Whether you did or did not attend please don’t forget to vote!
Refer below for some helpful information.
Word file of candidates’ details Candidates Data 2018 – Public
Statements from candidates CandidateStatements
Details of Candidates for NPSP Council election 2018: Candidates Data 2018 – Public
How will State Government proposals affect you?
- You may no longer have any right of appeal on developments including those right next door to your home
- At the same time, there is a high risk of massive dilution of heritage legislation that will witness a substantial erosion of local personality and a marked decrease in your property value.
- All these changes to planning and heritage legislation are happening without any reasonable level of public awareness and consultation
So! A potent local council will, with your support, challenge all of this.
What does your local Council do for you?
Functions of Local Councils (from Introduction to Local Government Handbook)
E&T – Introduction to Local Government Handbook
What Councils must provide
Mostly Councils decide what services they will provide locally. However there are some
services which Councils are required, by legislation, to provide.
These include:
formulation of planning policy for the area (note that planning policy must be
approved by the State Minister for Planning) and assessment of development
proposals including the enforcement of breaches of the Development Act 1993;
some environmental health services, such as monitoring cooling towers for
Legionnaire’s Disease;
fire prevention (i.e. some building inspection, and some bushfire prevention
enforcement functions are a duty, while others are discretionary);
dog and cat management; and
some administrative requirements, such as preparing strategic plans for the area,
maintaining an office, employing a Chief Executive Officer and supporting the
elected Council.
What Councils provide by choice
Other services provided and activities undertaken or funded by many Councils
(subject to priorities determined locally) are:
Aged care
Arts and cultural programs
Business support
Caravan parks
Cemeteries
Coastcare and dunecare projects
Community buses
Community centres
Community development programs
Community leadership and advocacy
Community services such as home and community care
Control of pest animals and plants
Control of public nuisances
Crime prevention
Cycling tracks
Dry zones
Economic development
Employment /training programs
Environmental management
Festivals and events
Food safety inspections
Footpaths
Immunisation
Information services
Landcare programs
Libraries with books and free internet
Local museums and heritage support
Monitoring of insanitary conditions
On street parking
Online services
Ovals
Parks and gardens
Public swimming pools
Recreation facilities and centres
Recycling
Reserves and picnic areas
Roads (local roads – that is, not national highways or State arterial roads)
Rubbish collection and disposal
Community Wastewater Management Systems
Skate parks
Stormwater drainage
Street lighting
Tourism information and support
Traffic management
Wetlands
Youth advisory committees
Whether a service is a legislative requirement of Councils, or is provided by local choice,
the Local Government Act 1999 requires that a Council be “responsive to the needs,
interests and aspirations of individuals and groups within its community…” and that it
must “…seek to ensure that Council resources are used fairly…”
Norwood Residents Association 