The Australian Centre for Excellence in Local Government (ACELG) has published the first piece of significant research investigating what makes for a successful Mayor-CEO relationship in Australian local government.

 

Presented in the Political Management in Australian Local Government: Exploring Roles and Relationships between Mayors and CEOs, the research provides key guidance to councils and state governments considering ways of redesigning and redefining the roles of the two local leaders.

 

“The working relationship between elected mayors and appointed officers in western democracies is one where the prescribed roles and responsibilities are negotiated over time between those who occupy these positions. This is the reason why we see so many differences in style and approach in councils,” one of the report’s lead authors, Professor John Martin said.

 

The full report can be found here (.pdf)