Darebin City Council, Moira Shire Council and Wodonga City Council will be appointed a municipal monitor to address concerns about governance and councillor conduct, Victorian Minister for Local Government, Shaun Leane announced today.
The Minister said a monitor will work with each council to prevent current issues from escalating and support councillors to perform their duties successfully.
The monitors for Darebin City Council and Wodonga City Council will also guide each council to appoint a CEO, he said.
“We expect councillors to maintain high standards and practice good governance – which is what people rightfully expect from their elected representatives.”
“Municipal monitors have proven to be effective at guiding councils to make improvements in governance that help them better serve their communities,” he said.
The municipal monitors will be appointed in coming weeks and will provide regular reports to the Minister on each council’s progress and recommend any further actions.
The Victorian Government is hoping to improve council culture throughout the state, last year conducting a wide-ranging study into what influences council culture as part of the Local Government Culture Project.
“We’re serious about improving culture in local councils. We want to encourage positive practices and stop negative behaviour,” said Minister Leane.
The project will provide a platform for the sector to identify and take ownership of a positive and inclusive culture that will improve governance and build public trust. The Local Government Culture Project includes broader engagement with local government, with key themes and advice to be provided to the Minister for consideration.
For more information visit localgovernment.vic.gov.au/council-governance/local-government-culture-project.
