Transcript Information Session

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Information Session
for
Prospective Candidates
hosted by City of Melbourne in partnership with
the Victorian Local Governance Association
(VLGA)
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Welcome and Introduction
Ron Exiner
Director Governance
Victorian Local Governance Association
Purposes of session
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• Stimulate interest in the MCC election
• Ensure potential candidates are well
informed about:
– MCC
– The election process
• To provide the opportunity for potential
candidates to ask questions
Outline of Local Government
Structure
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• 3 levels of Australian Government
• Local government is the 3rd level
• MCC – CBD, Docklands and surrounds
• Fully democratic level of government
Legislative Framework
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• Local Government Act 1989
(as amended)
• City of Melbourne Act 2001
(as amended)
• Other relevant legislation
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What will you be part of if elected
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• Your community’s leadership
• Helping create and implement your
community’s vision
• Helping make decisions
• Representing your community and
constituents
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Melbourne Overview
Linda Weatherson
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Melbourne City Council
City of Melbourne Municipality
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Melbourne at a glance
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• The City of Melbourne municipality covers 37.6 sq km
• Residential population of around 100,611 (as of 2011)
• Around 805,000 people use the city
• Melbourne hosts over one million international visitors each year
• 471 hectares of parkland
The entire Melbourne metropolitan
area covers 7,694 sq km and has a
population of around 4.1 million
Melbourne population
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City of Melbourne estimated residential population
• June 2011 100,611
• June 2001 50,673
• June 1991 34,659
Source: Regional Population Growth, Australian Bureau of
Statistics (various years)
Forecast residential population
(note: last updated 2010, due for an update 2013-14)
• June 2021 139,500
• June 2031 181,000
Source: City Research/Id Consulting
Melbourne’s people
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Selected
characteristics
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of residents, 2011 Census
Median age of persons
28
Median total personal income ($/weekly)
711
Median total family income ($/weekly)
1,962
Median total household income ($/weekly)
1,352
Average household size
2.0
Languages Spoken at Home, 2011 Census
• Speaks English only
• Mandarin
• Cantonese
• Indonesian
• Arabic, Korean, Vietnamese, Italian, Hindi,
Spanish, Thai, Japanese, French, Greek
(recorded 1% for each language)
• Other/not stated
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
51%
10%
5%
3%
1%
21%
Melbourne in numbers
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Daily city user estimates
• Number of workers
• Number of metropolitan visitors
• Number of interstate visitors
• Number of international visitors
• Number of regional visitors
• Number of higher education student
391,000
158,000
28,000
33,000
12,000
56,000
Notes: the above figures represent people aged 15 years or over.
Source: City of Melbourne Daily
Population Estimates and Forecasts
Model - 2011 Update, 2004-2030
Financial figures 2012-13
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• Total budget revenue - $378.5 million
(Includes Capital Contributions $13 million but excludes proceeds from sale)
• Total budgeted expenditure - $365 million
• Budgeted underlying surplus - $0.57 million
• Total budgeted council works- $110 million
• Total EFT - 1,267.56
• Credit Rating: AAA issued by Standard and Poors (since March
2001)
• Total Assets - Over $3.2 billion.
Melbourne economics
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Economic Forecast
Growth Forecast (Employment) 2011-2021 - 20% (1.9% p.a.)
Strongest Growth Industry - Professional, Scientific and Technical
Services - 4.6% p.a.
Source: Deloitte Access Economics, Employment Forecasts 2012 (June)
City of Melbourne Gross Regional Product 2011 - $56.8 Billion
Largest Industry by Economic Contribution – financial & Insurance
Services - $20.2 Billion
Source: id Consulting, Economy id 2011
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Role of a councillor
Ron Exiner
Director Governance
Victorian Local Governance Association
Councillor powers under the
Local Government Act
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• None, except as part of the formal
Council meeting
Responsibilities
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(as part of Council)
Strategic planning
Representation
Advocacy
Competitive organisation and community
assets
• Relationships
• Performance management and
employment of the CEO
How to get things done
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• Relationships with councillor colleagues
• Relationships with the administration
• Practising good governance
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Support available to a
Melbourne City Councillor
Jack Hanna
Executive Officer Councillor Support
Melbourne City Council
What to expect – time commitment
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• Role of a capital city councillor
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• How much time will I need to allocate for the
role?
• The ‘known knowns and known unknowns’
• Current approach and structure – as an indicator
– Staying informed and briefed on city matters
– Committee & Council meetings – the decision making
structure
– Representing the city – locally and beyond
Current approach
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Decision-making
structure
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Future Melbourne Committee – meets first and second Tuesday each month
Council – meets last Tuesday of each month
Other Committees - Audit, Docklands Co-ordination and Inner Melbourne Action Plan
Portfolios
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Portfolio arrangement – People and Creative City, Connected City, Planning, Finance and
Governance, Eco City, Economic Development and Knowledge City
Briefings and information sharing
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Advice, briefing papers and other material is provided on daily basis
Leadership team role acknowledged through regular dialogue with Chief Executive Officer
Councillor Forums and discussions – informal arrangement which takes place on Tuesday
afternoon
Portfolio support networks – put in place to assist information sharing on key portfolio issues
Representing the city
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Council organised or sponsored activities – community, cultural, business, arts and sports
Visiting delegations, conferences and seminars locally and internationally – the Melbourne
experience
Councillors have opportunity to represent Council on advisory boards and organisations
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Representing
the city
advisory boards and organisations
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Over 40 opportunities across many sectors
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So, what does that mean – time wise ?
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As a group
• Tuesday has been preferred day for all-Councillor gatherings
• Midday onwards
• Many Councillors use early Tuesday for other regular meetings
• Committee meetings generally run for 1.5 hours, Council meetings around 1 hour
• Other group activities, we’ll try to arrange for a time that suits all
As an individual
• Your portfolio role, preferred working style and areas of interest will influence time
requirements.
• Time to read, review material and seek advice or further information
• City representation – media and speaking roles; community and stakeholder liaison;
stakeholder hosting opportunities, most occur after hours
Number of hours on the job ?
• It depends on a number of factors ! There is no one-size fits all
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JUGGLING SKILLS HELP …
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TRYING TO GET THE BALANCE RIGHT !
Source : www.politicalcartoons.com
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What to expect – support services
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• Support structures
• Allowances and expenses
• Facilities, services and equipment
• Building on skill level
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Support
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Chief Executive Officer & Directors
• Need advice, just ask approach.
• Management team is key to providing up-to-date advice and information on matters
Support staff
• Designated staff are provided to support Lord Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors.
• Services include a range of advisory, liaison, co-ordination and issue management services
• Will ensure you are prepared, briefed and supported as you undertake your role
• Flexibility to structure things around your working needs and preferences
Portfolio support network
• Bring together a group of council officers aimed at assisting two-way communication on
emerging issues and opportunities and to provide an administration sounding board on matters.
• Under leadership of a director, arrangement may also involve managers, council officers and a
media staff member along with your designated liaison officer.
• Flexibility to suit your requirements and availability.
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Allowances and expenses
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Annual allowances
•Set by the State Government
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Lord Mayor $167,300
Deputy Lord Mayor $83,650
Councillors $39,282
• 9% super is paid on top of allowance
Councillor expenses
• Councillor Expenses and Resources Guidelines describe how assistance is
provided with costs of doing Council business
• Aims to ensure Councillors are not ‘out-of-pocket’ while carrying out the role
• Recognises that costs can be incurred in range of areas including communication,
travel, conference registration, training, stakeholder hosting, carer services
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Facilities, services and equipment
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Office accommodation
• Office is provided in Town Hall
• Combination of shared and individual office space
• Fully equipped office, desk, desktop computer, storage facilities and in-office meeting furniture
• Car parking is available short distance from Town Hall
Meeting facilities
• Access to range of meeting facilities in the Town Hall
• Hospitality services when conducting Council business
• Expense guidelines acknowledge that sometimes meetings or hosting occurs off-site
Equipment
• Access to information and advice is important
• All the communication tools are available including smart phone, computer, tablet PC, printer
• Acknowledge the leadership role of Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor by providing
designated vehicles. Councillors have access to fleet vehicles if required
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Building on skill level
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New Council program
• Program will be made available to new council to assist transition into office
• Information and guidance on key city activities, issues and services
Core areas
• Program available to all Councillors – new and returning
• Will highlight the important areas including the process for developing a new
Council Plan, the 4 year vision for Melbourne
• Core areas such as governance, planning, financials and media/communication
will be highly recommended for new Councillors
Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Door is open to councillors to continue building on skills they bring to the role
• Will work with councillors to identify areas that help meet the demanding role and
expectations
• Can cover areas that assist communication, community advocacy and operating at
the strategic and policy level
• Offered internally and with external service providers including the VLGA
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Busy role? Yes
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Source : www.best-of-web.com
Help available? Absolutely !
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My experience as a
Melbourne City Councillor
David Wilson
former Melbourne City Councillor
A joyful experience
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• The campaign
• A steep learning curve
• A position of privilege
• A team worth belonging to
• A good way of learning about yourself,
your city and your colleagues
A challenging experience
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• You sure can’t please everyone
• Issues are complex and sometimes
everyone sounds like they’ve got it right
• Time commitment
• Keeping on top of things
• Staying motivated
A rewarding experience
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• Ways to make a difference occur on a
regular basis …..
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Becoming a Melbourne
City Councillor
Bill Lang
Returning Officer
Victorian Electoral Commission
Melbourne City Council Elections
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To take place on Saturday, 27
October 2012.
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By postal vote.
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Voting closes at 6.00pm on Friday,
26 October 2012.
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Nine councillors are to be elected.
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Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor
to be elected
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Electoral structure:
Unsubdivided municipality.
Eligibility to Nominate
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To be eligible to stand as a candidate in this election, you must be:
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listed on the voters roll for the Council’s election, and
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an Australian citizen, and
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not disqualified by any other criteria (see Local Government Act 1989), or
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have an exemption from certain disqualifications granted by VCAT.
All candidates are encouraged to review the Candidates Handbook, which will be
available from the election office and VEC website (vec.vic.gov.au).
Candidates who are unsure if they are qualified should check their enrolment and
seek independent legal advice about any disqualifications that may apply.
Submitting the Nomination Form
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Submit a nomination form by:
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filling out the nomination form by hand, or also available online for
candidates nominating for election as a Councillor, and
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submitting the nomination form to the returning officer, and
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paying the nomination fee ($250 per candidate / $500 per Leadership Team)
by cash or bank cheque (payable to the Victorian Electoral Commission) to the
returning officer.
Important things to consider:
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nominations close at midday on nomination day, Tuesday, 25 September
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the contact person noted on the form for media and public enquiries
Nominating via
the On-Line Helper
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We recommend that candidates nominating for election as Councillor who have
access to the internet use the online candidate helper:
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Available on the VEC website (vec.vic.gov.au) during the nomination period.
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Assists with completing the nomination form.
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Printed copies of the form must still be lodged in person at the election office.
You are not a candidate until the form is lodged at the office and fee paid.
Using the online candidate helper saves time at the election office as the
nomination forms do not need to be manually entered by VEC staff before they can
be approved by candidates (or their representative).
The online candidate helper cannot be used for nominating a Leadership Team
(Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor) or candidate statements.
Nomination Key Dates
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The key dates are:
Election office opens
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Opening of nominations
Thursday, 20 September 2012
Close of nominations
12 noon on Tuesday, 25 September 2012
The returning officer will conduct an information session for all prospective
candidates before or during the nomination period. Please see advertising in local
papers and check with the election office for more information.
We recommend candidates nominate as early as possible during the nomination
period. This leaves plenty of time to resolve any eligibility queries. Nominations
lodged after the close of nominations cannot be accepted.
Group Name Registration
And Ballot Draw
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Grouped Candidates
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Two or more candidates may request to have names grouped on the
ballot paper with a specific group name
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Request for grouping closes at 12 noon on Thursday, 27 September
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Name of group has certain criteria – see Candidate Handbook
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Two ballot draws on Thursday, 27 September:
- one to determine the order of groups
- one to determine the order of ungrouped candidates
Group Statement:
Councillor Election
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Grouped Candidates
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Statement of not more than 250 words
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Must be lodged by a person authorised to sign an application for
registration of group voting ticket
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A recent photograph of each member of group
(The VEC recommends photographs are lodged with the
nomination form)
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Statement, photographs and group voting tickets must be
submitted by 12 noon on Monday, 1 October 2012.
Candidate Statement:
Councillors Election
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Ungrouped Candidates
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Statement of not more than 150 words
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A recent photograph
(The VEC recommends photographs are lodged with the
nomination form)
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Statement, photographs and an indication of preferences
due by 12 noon Monday, 1 October 2012.
Leadership Team Names
And Ballot Draw
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Leadership Team
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A team nominating for election as Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord
Mayor may request a team name on the ballot paper
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Request for team name due by 12 noon on Thursday, 27 September
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Name of team has certain criteria – see Candidate Handbook
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The order of teams on the ballot paper is determined by a single
ballot draw
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The ballot paper will show the names of each candidate, the position
they are standing for as well as the team name if applicable
Team Statement:
Leadership Team Election
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Team statement of not more than 250 words
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A recent passport sized photograph for each member of team
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Statement, photographs and an indication of preferences
due by 12 noon on Monday, 1 October 2012.
Authorisation of Election
Advertising
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Election advertising must be authorised:
Sec. 55(1)
A person must not print, publish or distribute or cause, permit or
authorise to be printed, published or distributed, an electoral
advertisement, handbill, pamphlet or notice unless the name and
address of the person who authorised the electoral advertisement,
handbill, pamphlet or notice appears at its end.
Election advertising must show:
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“Authorised by: [name and street address]”
Does not apply to a car sticker, an item of clothing, lapel button, lapel badge,
fridge magnet, pen, pencil or balloon.
Voting
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Ballot papers will be mailed out randomly to voters between Tuesday, 9
October 2012 and Thursday, 11 October 2012.
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Voters are instructed to complete their ballot paper, place it in the declaration
envelope and complete the postal declaration, then place it into the reply-paid
envelope and drop it in the post. Hand delivery location(s) will also be identified.
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Replacement ballot papers for voters who have damaged, lost, or spoilt their
ballot papers can be issued by the Returning Officer.
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Voting closes at 6.00pm on Friday, 26 October 2012.
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Voting in the Melbourne City council elections is compulsory for all voters on
the Melbourne City Council voters roll.
Scrutiny and counting
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Ballot papers will be extracted from envelopes on Saturday, 27 October 2012.
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Counting will be conducted by computer.
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Informal votes will be set aside and excluded from the count.
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Candidates may appoint scrutineers to attend the scrutiny and count on their
behalf. Scrutineers require approval from the returning officer.
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At any time before the declaration, a candidate may request a recount and
must do so in writing to the returning officer.
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The returning officer may order a recount if he or she thinks fit.
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The VEC aims to declare all results by Friday, 2 November 2012.
More information?
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Check your local papers between Wednesday, 29 August and Thursday, 6 September
for the statutory election notice, containing information on:
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how to contact the Returning Officer.
the time/location of the Candidate Information Session.
Information about submitting a nomination and becoming a candidate.
Resources...
Candidate Handbook Available from Returning Officer and VEC website
Information Sessions To be held at Melbourne Town Hall on:
Monday, 17 September at 7.00 pm; and
Wednesday, 19 September at 12.30 pm
VEC’s website
vec.vic.gov.au
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A brief guide to
campaigning
Darren Ray
Local Government Consultant
Outline of presentation
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Donations – the legal situation
Tips for candidate statements
Street stalls and door knocking
Advertising
Media
Resources
Donations: the legal situation
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• Within 40 days of election day, candidates are
required to submit an election campaign
donation return to the CEO of the council (s.62),
it must be in writing.
• The “donation period” means the period 30 days
after the last general election for the council; and
ending 30 days after election day in the current
election
• You must declare any gift, goods or services in
the amount
– or value of $500 or more, received during the
donation period
• Gifts
which
must
disclosed include those made by
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an individual or organisation, including a corporation,
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or unincorporated association, trust fund
or foundation.
• Two or more gifts made by the same person are to be
taken to be one donation.
• If a person receives a gift unlawfully, twice the amount or
value of that gift is forfeited to the State. This amount
may be recovered from the councillor or candidate.
• A candidate who fails to submit a campaign donation
return as required or submits a return that to the
knowledge of that person is false or misleading, is guilty
of an offence.
PENALTY: 60 penalty units
Statements
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• Written Statements must be 150 words (ungrouped candidates)
and 250 words (grouped candidates), any more will not be printed.
• Photo is critical as it is your continuing brand with other desktopping
• You need 2 recent identical hardcopy photographs (38x32mm) or
electronic version on a USB memory key if you wish.
• If you are representing a party, candidate, organisation or person
you should include this information.
• The material must not be offensive, obscene, misleading or
deceptive in the eyes of the Returning Officer.
• Statements submitted online using the Candidate Helper will have
the correct formatting required by the VEC.
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• You will be notified if the Statement has been rejected
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• In this case your Statement would have to be amended
and the revised Statement resubmitted to the Returning
Officer by 4pm the following day.
• If this does not happen then the ballot material will be
sent to voters with advice that the candidate did not
lodge a statement.
MOST IMPORTANTLY:
• Know why you are standing
• Be honest and clear about what you can do for your council
• Don’t try to be everything to everyone
• Don’t be a “one issue” candidate
Street stalls and door knocking
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• Going out into your community is a MUST DO. If this is not a
personal strength, don’t do it. If you are in a group choose
your best ‘faces’.
• Meet your community, when using Street Stalls make sure
you have checked with shops near by, so you don’t stop their
shopping flow.
• Opportunity to say what you stand for and to get to know your
business community and shoppers.
• Door knock - if no-one is at the business/home, leave your
paperwork for them.
• Door knocking – is a great opportunity to see & hear what is
going on in.
• Voters always feel better if they have heard and seen a
Candidate.
Advertising
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• Match your style with your audience (corporate,
residents).
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• KEEP YOUR PHOTO AND BRAND.
• Use Social Media and Data Mine (free online tools or
pay someone).
• Only place material where it is allowed to be.
• Private businesses and private homes.
• Council will have rules re placards in public places.
• Generally prohibited in public spaces but not always so
check with Council.
Media
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Journalists Love
 When you give them stories.
 When you do their work for them.
 When you are always available.
 When you always have something interesting to say.
 When you engage with their audience.
 When you increase their popularity.
Journalists Hate
 When you’re dishonest.
 When you just demand coverage.
 When you don’t understand or comply with their deadlines.
 When you abuse them.
 When you embarrass them.
 When you ignore them.
Further Information
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• VEC Melbourne City Council Leadership Team &
Councillor Candidates Handbooks at
http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/stand/stand-forms.html
• VLGA Local Government Elections Webpage and
Resources (including Good Governance Grabs) at
http://www.vlga.org.au/Projects___Campaigns/2012_Loc
al_Government_Elections.aspx
• Think Women For Local Government 2012 Project at
http://thinkwomenlg.org.au/page/think-women-2012project
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Panel Questions