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Nov 11 - Annual General Meeting
Oct 11 - Future population, infrastructure and sustainability in local communities: rethinking the debates
Sep 11 - Securing local business and jobs: exploring the barriers and opportunities
Aug 11 - Directly elected Mayors and Deputy Mayors: to be or not to be, what are the questions?
Jul 11 - Local government: a reflection of our diverse communities?
Jun 11 - Local government leaders connecting with Aboriginal communities
May 11 - Special member consultation/update: local government performance & land use planning reforms
Apr 11 - Community consultation: improving outcomes by listening to stakeholders
Mar 11 - Affordable Housing and Local Government
Feb 11 - VLGA Board Election Candidates Forum Focus on 2011
3 November 2011 - Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting commenced at 7pm, and was followed by guest speaker Victorian Child Safety Commissioner, Mr Bernie Geary OAM
Annual General Meeting Agenda
1.
Introduction and apologies
2.
Confirmation of Minutes:
2.1
4 November 2010 Annual General Meeting
2.2
18 November 2010 Special General Meeting
3.
President’s Report: Cr Samantha Dunn
4.
Treasurer’s Report: Cr John Doull
5.
Appointment of Auditor
6.
Life Membership
7.
Close of AGM & introduction of guest speaker, Victorian Child Safety Commissioner, Mr Bernie Geary OAM
View webcast of Victorian Child Safety Commissioner, Mr Bernie Geary OAM
6 October 2011 - Future population, infrastructure and sustainability in local communities: rethinking the debates.
A special 2011 Planning Month event. Are we managing the issue or is it managing us? Is more leadership and coordination needed? Hear a range of economic, planning and environment experts reflect on the current population, planning and growth debates. An interactive panel discussion debated the challenges, opportunities and implications for local governments and communities.
Speakers:
James Lamour-Reid: Committee Member, Planning Institute Australia
As well as being a Committee Member at the PIA (Vic), James has been a Director of Planisphere - urban strategy planners - since 2009. James has over 20 years planning experience, within local government and private consultancy. He has managed large teams in disciplines as diverse as planning, building, arts and culture, environment and health. James has a passion for achieving good planning outcomes; visions that inspire, processes that involve the right people and strategies that are achievable.
Brian Haratsis: Managing Director and Chief Economist, Macroplan
Author of Australia 2050: Big Australia? Well known as a strategic planner, Futurist and visionary for over 25 years, Brian has also been the key analyst in major developments and projects. He has had a particular focus on private sector property involvement; as well as understanding communities, tourism and social trends.
Matt Ruchel: Executive Director, Victorian National Parks Association
Executive Director of the VNPA since 2007, Matt has a strong background in environmental policy, having worked in non-government areas at state, national and international levels for over 20 years. Matt has held senior positions in local government, as well as leading international and national conservation organisations.
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Presentation by James Lamour-Reid: Committee Member, Planning Institute Australia
Presentation by Brian Haratsis: Managing Director and Chief Economist, Macroplan
Presentation by Matt Ruchel: Executive Director, Victorian National Parks Association
View webcast
1 September 2011 - Securing local business and jobs: exploring the barriers and opportunities
Local governments in rural and regional areas are significant drivers of local economies. As well as directly employing a significant proportion of the local workforce, they procure goods and services, which often supports local businesses.
However sometimes there is a difficult balance to maintain between getting best value in pure price terms, and giving best value to the local economy by procuring locally whenever possible.
This Leading Edge Forum was kindly hosted by the City of Ballarat, and dispelled the myth that “local governments can’t be active in this space”.
We heard how the City of Ballarat has brought benefits locally and for the surrounding region through the Ballarat Industry Participation Project (BIPP):
* What lessons can be transferred to other local governments on how to legally prefer local business
and jobs?
* Is local government too cautious to avoid transgressing the Trade Practices Act or Best Value
Principles?
Speakers:
Jeff Pulford, Director Destinations & Connections, City of Ballarat
Andrew Bradley, Industry Capability Network Victoria
Dean Stevens, Director, AW Nicholson P/L
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Presentation by Andrew Bradley, Industry Capability Network Victoria
View webcast
4 August 2011 - Directly elected Mayors and Deputy Mayors: to be or not to be, what are the questions?
Will the direct election of Mayors and Deputy Mayors in Victoria provide local governments and communities with effective governance and leadership?
The August LEF presented a range of perspectives from current and former mayors and deputy mayors, CEOs, as well as governance and academic experts.
Featuring:
- Professor Graham Sansom is Director of the Sydney UTS Centre for Local Government and also the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government. Graham is currently writing a chapter on the expanding role of Mayors, comparing recent developments in Australia, New Zealand and the UK
- Cr Susan Riley is the current and twice elected Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne. Susan is also a businesswoman of some repute, with a career in publishing and the media spanning some 25 years
- Frank Dixon is the CEO of Maroondah City Council and was the former CEO of Launceston City Council
- Rosemary Kiss has published widely on Australian local government, democratic governance and the role of local government. Rosemary was a councillor at the City of Fitzroy, served over eight years as a member of the Victorian Local Government Grants Commission, and was appointed to two Good Governance Task Forces
- Mike Berwick, AM was Mayor of Douglas Shire in Queensland for 17 years and has a longstanding interest in advocacy and governance issues. Mike is currently Chair of the Board of Directors of the Terrain Natural Resource Management group
7 July 2011 - Local government: a reflection of our diverse communities?
True or false?
Local government in Victoria is:
• an employer of choice for diverse applicants?
• a reflection of diverse communities?
• responding to worsening skills gaps?
Attendees at the July LEF joined us to be at the leading edge of challenges and debates in our sector and communities, and heard the latest research, case studies, and from a panel of peak body representatives.
Guest Speaker was Professor Santina Bertone, Associate Dean Research, Swinburne University Faculty Business and Enterprise. Leading the Workplace Studies Centre for over a decade, Santina has published 87 articles on workforce, immigration and industrial relations. A longstanding executive member of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, Santina held other community and government board roles, and was awarded the Centenary of Federation Medal in 2008.
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Latest research
Prof Santina Bertone presentation
Report to the Ian Potter Foundation
View webscast
2 June 2011 - Local government leaders connecting with Aboriginal communities
This special National Reconciliation Week was an opportunity to network for elected councillors, mayors and supporting officers.
We heard from Victorian and interstate Indigenous leaders about the roles and opportunities for Victorian local governments to ‘bridge the gaps’ and advance Reconciliation, and discussed positive examples and promoted discussion about relationships between local government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and communities.
LEF flyer
View webcast
5 May 2011 - Special member consultation and update: local government performance and land use planning reforms
The May Leading Edge Forum looked at two important issues likely to heavily impact on local governments and communities:
VLGA directions on planning issues and the new State Government
We heard about recent meetings of the VLGA's CEO and President with the State Government, outcomes from a recent VLGA member council forum, and plans the VLGA has to advocate for significant land use planning reforms that will improve a genuine partnership between governments and our communities.
Performance Monitoring Framework for Local Government: next steps?
The ESC’s Chairperson Ron Ben-David and Director Andrew Chow joined us for a consultation on whether the indicators arising from the pilot report are the best possible indicators. Other questions discussed included:
• whether there are better ways to present the data, and
• how the ESC can improve their data gathering and reporting processes.
To see where this issue is now at, download the ESC Performance Monitoring Framework Update. See a copy of our joint submission to the ESC’s inquiry.
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* Please note, the May Leading Edge Forum was NOT webcast.
7 April 2011 - Community consultation: improving outcomes by listening to stakeholders
This event featured a number of speakers from academia, local government and other organisations with experience in community involvement in planning who will provide insights into the value of consultation, optimal methods of engagement, and some best practice case studies.
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Dr Crystal Legacy, University of Melbourne
Kimbra White, President, IAP2 Australasia
Ruth Davies, Akin Planning, PIA
View webcast
3 March 2011 - Affordable Housing and Local Government
Understanding the importance of affordable housing
Local government's role in affordable housing
Partnerships with other organisations working in affordable housing
Topics and programs included:
-
Local government and housing issues: the relationship
- Vicki-Ann Ware, AHURI (Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute)
- The Eastern Affordable Housing Alliance: local governments working together
- Cr Jieh-Yung Lo, EAHA
- Wodonga City Council’s approach to affordable housing
- CEO Gavin Cator
- Voluntary agreements with developers: how, why and case studies
- Rob McGauran, Melbourne Affordable Housing
3 February 11 - VLGA Board Election Candidates Forum
Candidates for the VLGA President and Board Elections each gave brief presentations to inform members' votes.
LEF flyer
View webcast