The Victorian Government has introduced the Local Government Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill aimed at addressing a number of shortcomings in the existing legislation and provide better governance for local government.

 

The Bill deals with, amongst other things, differential rates, election campaign donations, processes regarding complaints about council Chief Executive Officers and council costs in VCAT hearings into councillor misconduct.

 

The State Government has announced it will develop guidelines for the appropriate use of differential rates by councils with an aim to empower the Minister to seek an Order in Council to stop councils from breaking with rates guidelines.

 

There will be a six month public consultation process regarding the new guidelines before councils determine their budget for 2013.

 

"There is considerable variation in the application of differential rates between councils with 14 councils levying no differential rate, 39 councils having four or more differential rates and six councils have at least 10,” State Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell said.

 

"Some differential rates are only applied to a small number of properties. 36 councils have differential rates that apply to less than 30 properties.”

 

"Under the changes a council will only be liable for a councillors costs when the council is the applicant in VCAT or has requested to become a party.

 

"A council will not be liable for costs when an individual councillor has applied for the matter to go to VCAT instead of a Councillor Conduct Panel.

 

"Councillor Conduct Panels are the appropriate forum to deal with most councillor misconduct matters, as they specialise in councillor conduct matters and involve less cost to ratepayers," Mrs Powell said.