Partnerships and projects

Councils Reforming Business

This initiative will identify opportunities for shared services and for reduction of councils’ regulatory impact on businesses. It also includes the development of the procurement strategy aimed at improving councils’ procurement policies and practices. In addition, the initiative includes work with Councils and the Office of Housing to identify ways to address affordable housing. Find out more information about Councils Reforming Business.

Local Area Planning

Cooperative, joint planning between state and local government helps to improve the quality of services at the local level. Robust planning processes, which are based on agreed information, can lead to the identification, understanding and solution to issues at the local level. Effective planning needs to be based on sound information and methodology. The Local Area Planning Support Program has been established to build local government planning capacity.

Financial Management

A number of guidelines have been developed to provide support to local government in their asset management. These guidelines are designed to improve local government’s skills and capacity in asset management and thus the consistency of their data. Improved data will enable better decisions to be made by all levels of government. Read more about the Asset Management Guidelines

Best Practice

The Best Value policy was introduced by the Bracks Government in 1999 to abolish the previous government’s policy of Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT). The government recognised that the key to improving the success of local government was assisting to build effective partnerships with their local communities. Read more about Best Value.

Community Strengthening

The Department represents the Victorian Government’s efforts to deliver government services in a way that supports and strengthens communities across Victoria. Community strengthening is about creating sustainable networks, and building collaborative relationships between individuals and groups to achieve common objectives for their communities. Read more about Community Strengthening.

Councillor Training Program

The importance of training and induction for councillors has been recognised following the general council elections in November 2008 with the release of a councillor training program – Supporting and Promoting Accountability and Responsibility for Councillors (SPARC).

Victorian State-Local Government Agreement

The Victorian State-Local Government Agreement (VSLGA) was signed by the Minister for Local Government, Hon Richard Wynne MP and on behalf of councils by the Municipal Association of Victoria, President Cr Dick Gross on 14 May 2008.

The VSLGA provides a basis for continued improvement in the relationship between State and Local Government that will promote a more efficient, joined-up approach to local services to meet community needs and provide value for money.

Read:
Victorian State-Local Government Agreement (VSLGA) (PDF 175 kb) or (Word 98 kb)
VSLGA - Communication and Consulting Guidelines (PDF 143 kb) or (Word 78 kb)
VSLGA - Negotiating Guidelines (PDF 166 kb) or (Word 84 kb)