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At the Interface e-bulletin - November 2009

11/09/2009

Welcome to the latest edition of At the Interface – bringing you news, events and information supporting local and central government collaboration to achieve community outcomes.

Some of the documents below are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.

In this edition

  • Changes to Local Government Act and community outcomes processes

The Minister of Local Government, Hon Rodney Hide, has recently announced Cabinet's decisions on changes to the Local Government Act 2002.

These reforms include merging the community outcomes process into the long-term council community planning process. Consolidating these processes is intended to

  • eliminate the costs and inefficiencies of having two, separate long-term planning processes
  • put greater attention on the prioritisation and affordability of proposals
  • improve the link between the outcomes the local authority is seeking and how it will achieve them.

The proposed changes should give councils greater flexibility to choose how they identify and respond to community aspirations and needs. Promoting the social, environmental, economic and cultural well-being of communities will stay in the Act.

The LTCCP will be simplified and given a more strategic focus, particularly regarding the prioritisation of resources.

Other reforms will provide

  • clearer and more consistent information on council costs, rates and activities
  • plain English financial disclosures
  • pre-election reports for each council
  • greater flexibility in delivery of water services.

The changes will be included in a Local Government Amendment Bill, to be introduced to Parliament later this year or in early 2010. Members of the public will have an opportunity to make submissions when the Bill is considered by a Parliamentary select committee.

Further information will be posted on www.communityoutcomes.govt.nz as it becomes available.

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  • November workshops

An Introduction to Local Government for Central Government Policy Advisors

9.00am - 5.00pm 27 November 2009, Overseas Terminal, Wellington

Programme - 2009 LG101 An Introduction to Local Government for Central Government Policy Advisors (pdf 159kb)

Overview

Local government is an essential part of New Zealand society, and understanding the way local government works is a vital skill for all central government policy officials. This workshop has been developed by the New Zealand Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM) and The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) specifically for central government policy analysts and advisors.

It will provide an understanding of local government processes and finances, the way local authorities work with their communities to promote well-being, and the importance of strong central and local government relationships.

It will also introduce and explain the "Policy development guidelines for regulatory functions involving local government", which have been developed by DIA to assist policy advisors when they are considering policy and regulations that may affect local authorities.

This workshop will cover

  • the recent history of the system of local government in New Zealand, with a separate section on the “same but only different” history of local government in Auckland
  • the Local Government Act 2002 and other relevant legislation
  • the content of the long-term council community plan (LTCCP)
  • decision making in local government, and how this differs from central government
  • community engagement, how it is actually done, with two very different case studies
  • sources of finance for local government
  • shared services in local government
  • using the 'Policy Development Guidelines'

Benefits of attending the workshop include

  • improved policy advice
  • improved knowledge of the Local Government Act 2002
  • improved understanding of the value of good relationships between central and local government
  • improved understanding of local government consultation processes
  • improved understanding of the implications of developing policies and programmes that impact on local government and carry compliance costs.

Information and presentations from the 2008 Central Government Policy Advisors Workshop

Registration

Prices

  • Non-SOLGM Member - $169.00
  • SOLGM Member - $152.00

Note: All prices include GST

Systems Thinking for Solving Complex Problems - Christchurch workshop

8.30am - 12.30pm, 26 November 2009, The Chateau on the Park, 189 Deans Ave, Christchurch

Programme - Systems Thinking for Solving Complex Problems Christchurch workshop (pdf 189kb)

Systems thinking is a scientific approach to problem solving that deals with hidden complexity and sustainability, which

  • provides tools and techniques for solving complex problems.
  • improves understanding and anticipation of long term consequences of decisions, actions, policies and strategies.
  • aims to avoid unintended consequences.

Further information about systems thinking and previous workshops

Overview

This workshop will introduce ‘systems thinking’ as a tool for helping central and local government work better together and address complex problems.  Led by Professor Kambiz Maani, an internationally renowned expert in systems thinking and sustainable strategies, you will learn how to use systems thinking as a tool for multi-dimensional, multi-stakeholder decision making at local and national levels.

Who should attend?

Central and local government

  • strategic decision makers
  • planners
  • relationship managers
  • policy makers
  • operational staff
  • those interested in community outcomes.

What to expect from this workshop?

  • understanding of systems thinking and its application to central and local government decision-making
  • techniques and tools for using and applying systems thinking to complex problems
  • exercises to develop practical skills for applying systems thinking in your role
  • an opportunity for central and local government to learn and understand systems thinking together
  • improved skills for working together to achieve local and national priorities.

Prices

  • Non-SOLGM Member - $163.00
  • SOLGM Member - $141.00

Note: All prices include GST

Registration

Register online at www.solgm.org.nz

Further information on these workshops

Fiona McDonald
Event Coordinator, SOLGM Opus Business School
DDI: 04 978 1289 Email: fmcdonald@solgm.org.nz
www.solgm.org.nz

Ann Pomeroy
Manager Interface Facilitation
Local Government and Community Branch, Department of Internal Affairs
DDI: 04 495 9300 Email: ann.pomeroy@dia.govt.nz

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  • Collaboration case stories

A range of case stories highlighting successful collaboration between local government, central government and communities to promote and achieve local priorities, are available on www.communityoutcomes.govt.nz.

Recently posted items include

Further stories about collaboration to achieve local priorities

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  • 2009/19 LTCCP analysis - Local Government Information Series

The Department of Internal Affairs is working to improve the availability of consistent local authority information for quality decision-making through the Local Government Information Series (LGIS).

LGIS LTCCP analysis reports

These reports include analysis of high-level financial information, and a range of non-financial observations from 2009/19 long-term council community plans (LTCCPs). The information provides the basis for understanding and analysing the key trends arising over the next ten years for the local government sector as a whole.

Local Government Information Series

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  • Community outcomes profile updates - social report, annual reports and monitoring reports

The community outcomes profiles on www.communityoutcomes.govt.nz detail local priorities, strategic plans and reports, and further information for each local authority area in New Zealand.

Profiles have recently been updated with

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  • Community Development Scheme 2010 funding round open

The Community Development Scheme (CDS) enables communities to work together in innovative ways, to generate their own solutions to local issues and achieve sustainable community outcomes.

The 2010 funding round opened on 2 November 2009 and closes on 22 March 2010. There are grants available to support 10 new projects in 10 priority territories around the country. They are:

  • Wairoa District
  • Kaikoura and/or Hurunui Districts
  • Dunedin City
  • Hauraki, Matamata and/or Piako Districts
  • Wellington City
  • Mackenzie, Timaru and/or Waimate Districts
  • North Shore City
  • Central Hawke’s Bay District
  • Manurewa (suburb)
  • Gore and/or Clutha Districts

The priority territories were identified after reviewing where the scheme has been available to communities since 2005 and where the projects receiving funding are located.

Community Development Scheme (Department of Internal Affairs website)

  • detailed information about the scheme
  • advice on how to apply
  • case stories of previous Community Development Scheme projects.

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  • Update on the Gisborne Integrated Planning Pilot Project

The August 2009 edition of At the Interface reported on an accessibility planning pilot being undertaken by NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Gisborne District Council. The pilot is progressing well and is now focused on communicating the project to stakeholders in the Gisborne district.

Gisborne District Council and NZTA are in the process of seeking stakeholders’ input to supplement information they have gathered from existing regional documents and specially commissioned accessibility maps. This will enable the identification of access-related problems faced by Gisborne’s most ‘at risk’ residents.

An accessibility action plan will then be written. It is expected to detail transport and non-transport solutions to these district-wide access problems, and should also contribute to the delivery of policy outcomes across the health, education, housing and social services portfolios.

This project is due to be completed in March 2010 and NZTA hopes to be able to present the results at the NZ Planning Institute conference in April.

For further information contact jacqueline.blake@nzta.govt.nz

Gisborne District Council - Gisborne Integrated Planning Project (pdf 5mb)

Gisborne Integrated Accessibility Planning Project Presentations - At the Interface August 2009

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  • Contact us

At the Interface is the newsletter of The Department of Internal Affairs' Interface Facilitation Team.

Please email communityoutcomes@dia.govt.nz with any questions or for further information, including to subscribe or unsubscribe.

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