Around this time every year, local governments set the budget for the following 12 months. A time consuming process where planned expenditure is decided, and then rates are set to meet those expenditures.
It’s your money; do you feel you’re getting sufficient say? Because there is another way … Continue reading Participatory Budgeting
It has been raised by some councillors at neighbouring councils that there should be independent member/s on their audit committees, including for the chair. Worse still, it has also been mooted that this should be forced upon all councils; hence my interest. So, whilst not an exciting topic, I still thought I’d provide my thoughts on why this is unnecessary, slightly counter-productive and may only serve to increase costs. Continue reading Corporate Governance & the Audit Committee
The City of Bayswater has taken further steps to ensure they are one of the most open and transparent local governments. And transparency allows for accountability. The new ‘Governance Portal’ provides plenty of information to residents, ratepayers and other interested parties. Continue reading Transparency = Accountability
I think it is understandable that some Councillors have an attraction to politics and, ergo political parties. But I wonder whether the public has a right to know what, if any, ties their Council representatives have with registered political parties. As such I am considering moving a motion that the City of Bayswater introduces a Political Interest Register. I seek your view on this. Continue reading Political Interest Register
In what has been a very big win for transparency, the City of Bayswater will soon start recording their council meetings and posting the recordings online. There may well be some other innovations as well. Continue reading Recording of Council Meetings
Courtesy of ‘Scaffidigate’ and multiple undisclosed overseas trips, transparency and accountability are front and centre for local governments – and the community we serve. I’m pleased to advise that the City of Bayswater is now joining the City of Vincent at the forefront of transparency. Continue reading City of Bayswater Transparency
