Local Government Reform Fund
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Procurement in Practice
The Procurement in Practice project (the project) will focus on fostering collaborative procurement practices across the Victorian local government sector.
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Value Adding through Internal Audit
The project will assess the contribution of a strong and strategic internal audit approach to the councils’ overall operational efficiency and service delivery to their respective communities.
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Building Best Value Capacity
The project will assess the contribution of best value in the agreed service areas to overall operational efficiency and service delivery of the councils and to their communities.
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Asset Management, Financial Planning and Performance Measurement
The Asset Management, Financial Planning and Performance Measurement project is a research-based project designed to assess the quality of data and decisions that have been driven by asset management and financial planning programs across Victorian councils.
What is the Local Government Reform Fund?
Over 20 councils across Victoria are participating in three of Local Government Victoria’s (LGV) Local Government Reform Fund projects. This $1.5 Million Victorian State government funded initiative is a continuation of the local government reform agenda - designed to assist councils to improve their financial and resource management capabilities and business practices. Overseen by a local government steering committee made up of LGV representatives, council CEOs and peak and professional associations, the program aims to deliver cost savings and process improvements to the sector.
The Local Government Reform Fund program (LGRF) was announced in November 2011, inviting all councils across Victoria to register an interest in participating in the program.
Following the registration of interest process, the LGRF project team met with groups of councils across Victoria to explore potential projects. This led to four projects being been selected that actively involve 21 councils.
Follow the links above for further project and participating council information.
Outcomes
The LGRF projects have been designed to deliver a broad range of outcomes, including:
• cost savings and process improvements that make a positive contribution to the financial viability of councils
• alignment with local government better practices processes
• investigation of alternate service delivery models and an improved understanding of the benefits in collaboration across Victorian local government
• delivery of lessons learnt to the State government and the sector- informing future policy making and planning
• capacity building (people and resources) particularly in regional and rural Victoria councils.
Each project will identify challenges inherent within existing legislation and/or regulation. This information will be used to refine the role of LGV in leading reform and will support future reviews of legislation, standards or guidance documents.
Outcomes, templates, tools and case studies will be distributed to the broader sector.
Governance
The delivery of the LGRF is being overseen by a local government steering committee. The committee is chaired by John Watson, Executive Director- LGV, and includes seven council Chief Executive Officers, representation from peak and professional associations including the Municipal Association of Victoria, Local Government Professional Inc, the Victorian Auditor General’s Office and the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate.