Local Government Reform Fund
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Procurement in Practice
The Procurement in Practice project delivered a collaborative procurement project in partnership with a group of regional councils
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Value Adding through Internal Audit
The project assessed 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 assessed 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?
The Local Government Reform Fund (LGRF) program is a $1.5 million State Government investment in local government reform. The program is 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 demonstrate the cost savings and process improvements available to the sector through improved business practice.
Four projects involving 21 councils were delivered in 2011-2012. The outcomes of these projects are currently being examined to inform future reform priorities.
Outcomes
The LGRF projects are 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 of 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 has identified challenges inherent within the existing legislative framework. This information is being used to inform the role of LGV in leading reform and will support future reviews of legislation, standards or guidance documents.
A suite of collaborative procurement templates have been made available on the Procurement in Practice webpage
The final report on outcomes from the Building Best Value Capacity and Internal Audit projects are currently being complied. Due to unexpected complexities with the finalisation of these programs, final reports will not be available unto the fourth quarter of 2012.
Governance
The delivery of the LGRF is being overseen by a local government steering committee. The committee is chaired by Kendrea Pope, Acting Executive Director, LGV, and membership includes:
- seven council Chief Executive Officers
- Municipal Association of Victoria
- Local Government Professional Inc
- Victorian Auditor-General’s Office
- Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate.