Local Government Research & Development Scheme - 2021-22 Annual Business Plan - LGA SA
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Local Government
Research &
Development Scheme
2021-22 Annual Business Plan
LGA of SA ECM726414 2021/22 LGR&DS Annual Business Plan Page 0 of 12Table of Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 2
2. Background to the LGR&DS ................................................................................................. 3
2.1 How the Scheme is established ........................................................................................ 3
2.2 Advisory Committee .......................................................................................................... 3
2.3 Funding calls .................................................................................................................... 4
2.4 Principles and Purposes of the Scheme............................................................................ 4
3. Projects Funded in 2020-21 ................................................................................................... 6
4. Strategic Directions and Environmental Scan ..................................................................... 7
4.1 LGA Strategic Plan ........................................................................................................... 7
4.2 LGA Annual Business Plan ............................................................................................... 7
4.3 2020 LGA member survey ................................................................................................ 8
4.4 Consultation with members and stakeholders in November 2020 ..................................... 8
5. 2021-22 Research & Development Priorities...................................................................... 10
6. Further information.............................................................................................................. 11
LGA of SA ECM 726414 2021/22 LGR&DS Annual Business Plan Page 1 of 121. Introduction
This Annual Business Plan 2021-22 was approved by the LGA Board of Directors on 18 February
2021.
It is designed to focus the attention of potential applicants to the Local Government Research &
Development Scheme (LGR&DS) on matters that will contribute to the advancement of local
government in South Australia.
This plan responds to direct consultation with LGA’s member councils, a broad ranging
environmental scan and review of the LGA’s strategic directions as expressed in strategic and
business plans. It should be noted that this plan is intended to complement (rather than mirror)
strategic and business plans of the LGA.
On the basis of these considerations, the following priorities have been identified as key areas of
research and development in 2021-22:
1. Local government reform
2. Financial sustainability and cost pressures
3. Infrastructure management
4. Community awareness and participation
5. Community safety, wellbeing and resilience
6. Local government response and recovery to COVID-19
7. Climate, disasters and environment.
The Advisory Committee would also welcome proposals that may not directly align with the matters
included in either plan but would nevertheless be considered useful research for the local
government sector and their communities, provided such proposals are consistent with the Principles
of the Scheme and at least one of the purposes of the Scheme, outlined at Section 2.
LGA of SA ECM 726414 2021/22 LGR&DS Annual Business Plan Page 2 of 122. Background to the LGR&DS
2.1 How the Scheme is established
Pursuant to section 31A of the Local Government Finance Authority Act 1983 (the LGFA Act) and
requirements of the State Government Treasurer, the Local Government Finance Authority (LGFA)
makes regular quarterly payments to the Local Government Taxation Equivalents Fund (LGTEF).
These funds are used for the purposes of the Local Government Research and Development
Scheme (LGR&DS), established under Section 31A(4) of the LGFA Act to fund projects that are
strategically of benefit to local government as a whole. The LGR&DS is unique to South Australia.
Since September 2015, the LGR&DS has been subject to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
between the Local Government Association of South Australia (LGA) and the Minister with
responsibility for the LGFA Act (currently the Treasurer). The MOU is available on the Scheme’s web
page: http://www.lga.sa.gov.au/Apply_LGRD_Scheme
2.2 Advisory Committee
As outlined in the MOU, the LGR&DS Advisory Committee was established by the LGA to assist it
with the management of the Scheme.
The key functions of the Advisory Committee are to highlight, guide and encourage proposals from
councils and other local government stakeholders in areas that will enhance the development of
Local Government in South Australia and to make recommendations for approvals of project
proposals to the LGA Board of Directors.
The MOU specifies that the membership of the Advisory Committee include representatives from key
local government stakeholder groups. As at December 2020, membership of the Advisory
Committee was:
• Mayor Erika Vickery, Chair (LGA Board)
• Mayor Claire Boan (LGA Board)
• Mayor Erin Thompson (LGA Board)
• Vacant (Country/Regional CEO)
• Mr Henry Inat (Metropolitan CEO)
• Ms Abbie Spencer (Local Government Unions)
• Prof Chris Leishman (South Australian Universities)
• CEO, Local Government Association (ex officio) – currently Matt Pinnegar
• Manager, Office of Local Government (ex officio) – currently Alex Hart.
LGA of SA ECM 726414 2021/22 LGR&DS Annual Business Plan Page 3 of 122.3 Funding calls
The Scheme holds two funding calls per year:
• an LGA (internal) funding call – applications which generally open in March, close in early
April for an LGA Board decision in May; and project commencement in July; and
• an external funding call – applications which generally open in late May, close in late July for
an LGA Board decision in September, and project commencement from October.
Further details of the external funding call will be published on the LGA website in May 2021.
Decisions regarding funding for proposals are made in accordance with the Principles and Purposes
of the Scheme (see below) by the LGA Board of Directors (acting on advice from the LGR&DS
Advisory Committee).
External calls usually attract a good spread of proponents applying to the Scheme, including
councils, regional LGAs, universities, the vocational education & training sector and local government
professional groups.
In addition to these two funding calls, the Scheme also provides annual funding allocations to:
• Regional Local Government Associations to support regional capacity building activities;
• South Australian Regional Organisation of Councils to support the delivery of its Annual
Business Plan;
• Greater Adelaide Regional Organisation of Councils to support the delivery of its Annual
Business Plan; and
• The LGA to deliver the Local Government Awareness Campaigns.
2.4 Principles and Purposes of the Scheme
The LGFA Act provides that the purposes to which LGR&DS funds may be put are only those
purposes "recommended by the LGA and agreed to by the Minister in accordance with principles
agreed between the Minister and the LGA.". No project may be approved unless it accords with both
Principles of the Scheme and at least one of the Purposes of the Scheme.
Principles of the Scheme
The MOU specifies that the “Principles of the Scheme” are:
• that in complying with the statutory requirements, the Scheme funds should be applied for
local government development purposes and that the money should be used strategically for
the benefit of Local Government as a whole; and
• that the disbursement of the funds should not result in any unfair competitive advantage to the
LGFA.
The first of these mandatory principles is critical. Proposed projects that would be of benefit only to a
single council, or to a small subset of South Australia’s 68 councils, cannot be funded by the Scheme
because such projects would not be of benefit to “Local Government as a whole”.
Purposes of the Scheme
The MOU specifies that the “‘Purposes of the Scheme” are:
LGA of SA ECM 726414 2021/22 LGR&DS Annual Business Plan Page 4 of 121. Grants or services to help Councils access electronic information and other strategic
development of Local Government Information services
2. Grants or services to help Councils with performance assessment, measurement and
benchmarking, and with performance improvement
3. Development or provision of services, training, handbooks, guides or codes related to the
administration of legislation under which Councils operate
4. Grants or services to help Councils promote understanding of the role, purposes and
functions of Local Government, including development of materials for schools
5. Grants for Local Government research and development projects:
(a). in priority areas for research and development specifically identified on an annual basis
following consultation by the LGA with Councils, or
(b). concerning innovation in Local Government administration or services.
6. Agreed programs for consultation throughout the Local Government sphere on projected
legislative changes affecting Local Government
7. Grants, research, information or services to help Councils with the introduction and
implementation of reforms to service delivery, within Local Government and between State
and Local Government
8. Funding of proposals by regional local government organisations to strengthen their ability to
provide services to their members and communities and to engage effectively in
intergovernmental discussions and negotiations. “Regional local government organisations”
includes both rural and metropolitan regional groupings as possible beneficiaries for funding
of initiatives with potential sector wide benefit.
9. Payments for which Local Government, through the LGA, is liable under legislative provisions
requiring the LGA to pay or contribute to the costs of specified statutory activities undertaken
for Local Government purposes
10. Grants or services to assist Councils with planning for the development/maintenance of
infrastructure and undertaking asset management planning.
This Annual Business Plan for the Scheme contains priority areas identified on an annual basis in
accordance with Principle 5(a).
LGA of SA ECM 726414 2021/22 LGR&DS Annual Business Plan Page 5 of 123. Projects Funded in 2020-21
The Scheme’s 2020-21 Annual Business Plan identified six priorities for the $1.5 Million that was
available via competitive grant funding rounds. The following summarises the projects that were
funded this year against these priorities.
Priority Projects Total
funding
Reform Local Government Reform Implementation $350,000
Support Councils in the implementation of the PDI Act and Planning and
Design Code
Financial Mapping the elements of council Enterprise Bargaining Agreements $327,089
sustainability and
Model Financial Statements Annual Updates (2021 and 2022)
cost pressures
Strategic Management Plan Templates (implementation of Productivity
Commission recommendations)
Public Lighting Support for SA Councils (expert advice and facilitation of the
Public Lighting Working Group)
External and internal challenges facing regional population growth
strategies: learning from the case of the Limestone Coast*
Best Practice Guide for Grants Management for Local Government in
South Australia*
Special Local Roads Program - Governance Review
Infrastructure $35,000
partnerships
Increasing Improving educational content in preparation for 2022 Elections $127,870
community
RPSA Voters Roll Practice Manual - 2022 Elections*
awareness and
participation Strategies to increase turnout at council elections using evidence from
randomised field trials*
Supporting Food Waste Recycling Initiative "Food for the Earth" $205,000
community well-
Local government: Enabling resilient food systems in South Australia*
being, resilience,
preparedness and Resilient South Pilot – Incorporating Climate Risk into Asset Management*
responses to Script development for Training Course re Community Wastewater
climate risk Management Schemes*
Project that Local Government Response to COVID-19 (resources, support and $293,200
supports Local guidance for councils)
Government in
Modelling business clusters’ readiness and resilience in managing and
responding to
responding to COVID-19*
'COVID-19'
Environmental Health Officers’ response to COVID-19: A public health
workforce needs assessment to ensure sustainability and future
preparedness*
Total projects $1,338,159
for 2020-21
* refers to external projects
LGA of SA ECM 726414 2021/22 LGR&DS Annual Business Plan Page 6 of 124. Strategic Directions and Environmental Scan
4.1 LGA Strategic Plan
The object of the LGA is to achieve public value through the promotion and advancement of the
interests of local government by:
advocating to achieve greater influence for local government in matters affecting councils and
communities;
assisting members to build capacity and increase sustainability through integrated and
coordinated local government; and
advancing local government through best practice and continuous improvement.
The LGA’s Strategic Plan 2016-2020 sets out three key initiatives:
1. Leadership and Advocacy (Advocate)
2. Capacity Building and Sustainability (Assist); and
3. Best Practice and Continuous Improvement (Advance).
The LGA is currently preparing a new four-year strategic plan for 2021-2025. A Discussion Paper
associated with this work identified the following as key elements of the future context for local
government and the LGA:
• Supporting social and economic recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 on councils and
communities
• Implementation of the Local Government Review Bill, and changes this will drive to council
governance and operations
• Supporting councils to achieve greater financial sustainability
• Providing and maintaining infrastructure in a sustainable manner
• Federal, State and Local Government elections scheduled for 2022
• Technological change, presenting new opportunities and increasing risks
• The ongoing impacts of climate change and increasing responsibilities in emergency
management
• Continuing to build community resilience and wellbeing
• Implementation of Planning Reforms and achieving positive planning and design outcomes in
communities.
4.2 LGA Annual Business Plan
Each year, the LGA sets its annual objectives and KPIs in an Annual Business Plan. The Annual
Business Plan for 2021-22 is due to be considered by the LGA Board in May 2021. It is anticipated
that the Annual Business Plan for 2021-22 will be informed by the new Strategic Plan.
A copy of the LGA’s current Annual Business Plan for 2020-21 is available on the LGA’s website.
This Plan identifies 11 objectives linked to the key strategies of Advocate, Assist and Advance, with
KPIs for each objective. The LGA’s objectives for 2020-21 are:
LGA of SA ECM 726414 2021/22 LGR&DS Annual Business Plan Page 7 of 121. Delivery of endorsed 2020/21 priorities in the LGA Advocacy Plan and SAROC and GAROC
Annual Business Plans and Communications Plans
2. Lead the Local Government Reform Program
3. Increase community awareness of and participation in local government
4. Provide resources, forums and assistance that support councils to meet their legislated
responsibilities
5. Build local government capacity and the skills of our people
6. Assist the sector with COVID-19 response and recovery and build the sector’s emergency
services and resilience capabilities
7. Effective implementation and administration of grant programs
8. Improve corporate systems and processes that mitigate risks and allow the LGA to operate
more efficiently
9. Continued Growth and Sustainment of LGA Procurement
10. Deliver quality fee-for-service activities that target the needs of the sector and reduce council
costs
11. Continuous improvement in the service delivery of LGASA Mutual.
4.3 2020 LGA member survey
Each year, the LGA conducts a member survey to gather feedback from its member on the services
that the LGA provides, its performance on key strategy areas and to better understand the issues
and matters of importance to members. The 2020 survey had a response rate of 760, nearly twice
that of previous years.
Of relevance to the Scheme, the top priority issues identified in members survey were:
• Local government reform
• Cost shifting / rate capping
• Climate change / environment
• Waste management / recycling
• Infrastructure funding, management and grants
• Financial sustainability.
4.4 Consultation with members and stakeholders in November 2020
The LGA asked its member councils to identify priority areas for research and development in the
coming financial year through a Latest News item on its website. The LGA also sought input from its
CEO Advisory Group at its November 2020 meeting.
In response, councils identified the following areas as research and development priorities:
• Supporting the implementation of Local Government Reforms, including
LGA of SA ECM 726414 2021/22 LGR&DS Annual Business Plan Page 8 of 12o Templates, resources and other guidance to avoid unnecessary duplication across the
sector
o Supporting councils to further strengthen long term financial and asset management
planning
o Funding plans for councils, including consideration of mandatory and discretionary
rate rebates
• Performance measurement and benchmarking for the local government sector
• Road safety
• Universal design.
The CEO Advisory Group also encouraged the LGA to focus on projects that deliver clear long-term
outcomes for the sector and address future and emerging needs, and to not initiate projects on topics
for which there are sufficient existing resources and initiatives.
In addition, member councils express their priorities through Notices of Motion presented to Annual
General and Ordinary General Meetings. Some (but not all) items of business carried at LGA general
meetings may require further research and be subject to applications to the LGR&DS in 2021-22. A
review of resolutions carried at the LGA’s 2020 Annual General Meeting identified the following
actions that may require further research to be supported through the Scheme:
• Appropriate regulatory framework and governance settings to enable attendance at council
meetings by electronic means
• Improved processes for updating the voter roll
• Providing training, resources and support to councils on gender equity, including family and
domestic violence
• Reviewing native vegetation management legislation and developing proposals for reform.
LGA of SA ECM 726414 2021/22 LGR&DS Annual Business Plan Page 9 of 125. 2021-22 Research & Development Priorities
On the basis of the information summarised in Section 4, the following priorities have been identified
as key areas of future research and development for 2021-22 that will assist the sector to meet
current and future challenges, and to capitalise on positive opportunities. Within each of these
priority areas, projects must address an issue of significant importance to local government and not
duplicate existing research or resources that are available through the Scheme or other sources,
including other levels of government.
5.1 Local government reform
Ensuring that the local government sector can appropriately implement Local Government
reforms, including a sector-wide performance measurement and reporting framework, best
practice governance and financial management, and a new council member behaviour
management framework.
5.2 Financial sustainability and cost pressures
Enhance the financial sustainability of the sector through programs that assist councils to
access external funds and identify and address present and future costs pressures, including
supporting councils to strengthen long-term financial and asset management planning.
5.3 Local government response and recovery to COVID-19
Projects that relate to the COVID-19 crisis which has had a significant impact on the sector,
including efforts for councils to provide leadership to their communities in social and economic
recovery.
5.4 Infrastructure management
Investigate and support the establishment of joint State/Local Government approaches to the
planning and provision, renewal and/or upgrade of community infrastructure, including
libraries and jetties.
5.5 Community awareness and participation
Resources and programs that aim to increase community awareness of the services provided
by councils and opportunities for people to participate in local government processes, with a
focus on initiatives that prepare councils and communities for the 2022 elections.
5.6 Community safety, wellbeing and resilience
Resources and initiatives that will assist councils to strengthen all facets of community safety,
wellbeing and resilience within local government’s defined areas of responsibility, including
improving access and inclusion, engagement with Aboriginal communities, road safety and
gender equality.
5.7 Climate, disasters and environment
Projects that assist councils to manage risks associated with disasters and a changing
climate and respond to environmental issues within their scope of responsibility, including
waste management and supporting local markets for kerbside recycling.
LGA of SA ECM 726414 2021/22 LGR&DS Annual Business Plan Page 10 of 126. Further information Information about the Scheme, including access to the Research Library with details of previously funded projects, is available at https://www.lga.sa.gov.au/member-services/financial- sustainability/grants/research-and-publications. Proponents are encouraged to contact Mathilde Thorsen prior to submitting projects to discuss ideas and approaches, and to obtain preliminary advice. Mathilde Thorsen Projects and Grants Coordinator Local Government Association of SA T: 08 8224 2057 E: lgrds@lga.sa.gov.au LGA of SA ECM 726414 2021/22 LGR&DS Annual Business Plan Page 11 of 12
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