Council reaffirms opposition to forced amalgamations

 

Manly Councillors and Mayor Jean Hay have reaffirmed their opposition to forced amalgamations with other councils after they and senior Manly Council staff attended two days of strategic planning workshops held over the 21 -22 February 2015 weekend.

“Councillors thoroughly examined the issue of a possible amalgamation by Manly with one or more other council areas, including Warringah and Pittwater,” said Mayor Hay.

The NSW Government’s ‘Fit for the Future’ program requires all councils to submit a merger or improvement proposal by June that would demonstrate long-term financial sustainability.

“A time-frame for developing Manly Council’s ‘Fit for the Future’ submission to the Office of Local Government was developed at Council’s recent strategic planning workshops,” said Mayor Hay.

“The submission will incorporate further polling of residents on a number of amalgamation options to ensure we have tested all options and that our final position reflects the opinions of our residents and ratepayers.”

“To adequately inform our assessment of these options, and as a matter due diligence, we will also need to undertake a comprehensive review of neighbouring councils’ accounts and management processes, including a review of the way their asset conditions and backlogs are reported.”

“The New South Wales Treasury Corporation has identified a pattern of practice that some councils have adopted in the past when reporting and accounting for assets that could significantly distort their reported financial performance,” said Mayor Hay.

“Council supports a system of local government that is sustainable, efficient and capable, and a unit of local government that is defined by its community of interest.”

“Manly Council is ranked high among New South Wales councils for long term financial viability.”

“Manly Council intends continuing to save residents costs through SHOROC [Sydney Harbour Regional Organisation of Council] and other such structures.”

“Additionally, research by the director of the Centre for Local Government at the University of New England, Professor Brian Dollery, has found that proposals to amalgamate Manly and Pittwater Councils with Warringah Council could cost ‘tens of millions of dollars’ creating ‘a new and entirely unnecessary layer of local government that duplicates existing arrangements in many respects’.”

“Increasingly, it is clear that larger Councils are not necessarily better for residents and ratepayers - and that forced amalgamations in particular do not improve financial sustainability or customer experience.”

“Smaller councils are more responsive and less bureaucratic, and the NSW Local Government Act already allows for effective co-governance structures.”

For more information visit Manly Council