Local Government Elections 2011 STANDING FOR COUNCIL

WHAT IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT? It is the level of government that is closest to the people in your community It is responsible for making sure that everyone in the community has access to important local services It helps to shape the community’s future

WHY STAND FOR COUNCIL ? To contribute to the development and improvement of your community To represent the interests of people in your community To make important decisions that impact on the way people live in your area

WHY STAND FOR COUNCIL ? Personal benefits include: Increased understanding of the operation of government at all levels Increased confidence in communicating and dealing with people Increased knowledge of management processes

REWARDS OF BEING A COUNCILLOR Making a contribution to the community Satisfaction from being part of team Varied and interesting work Access to a wide range of people and experiences Opportunities to work with people in regional or state wide networks

SKILLS OF A COUNCILLOR Good communication and listening Public speaking Negotiation and conflict resolution Community relations Team work Knowledge of meeting procedures Basic financial management Strategic planning and decision making Time management

IMPORTANCE OF TIME MANAGEMENT Attending council and committee meetings Preparing for meetings by reading agenda, reports and other background documents Attending community meetings and functions

Represents local government electors and other ratepayers and residents Provides leadership and guidance to community members Facilitates communication between the community and the council RESPONSIBILITIES OF A COUNCILLOR

Attends council meetings, and committee meetings as required Participates in decision making Acts in accordance with the Local Government Act 1995 and Local Government (Rules of Conduct) Regulations 2007 RESPONSIBILITIES OF A COUNCILLOR (continued)

WHAT DECISIONS DO YOU MAKE AS A COUNCILLOR? Developing a strategic vision for the future of the community Establishing a plan for the local government to meet that vision Making decisions on land use planning Overseeing the financial management of the local government Developing and reviewing local government policies

WHO CAN NOMINATE? You can nominate for council if you are: 18 years or older an elector of the district (more on this later)

You are NOT eligible to nominate for council if you: are a member of State or Federal Parliament are insolvent under administration are serving a prison sentence for a crime have been convicted of a serious local government offence within the last five years (unless the court waived the disqualification) WHO CAN NOMINATE? (continued)

You are also NOT eligible to nominate for council if you: are a member of another council are subject to a court order which disqualifies you from being a council member are an elector as the nominee of a company are already standing for a position on council (unless standing for a position of publicly elected mayor or president) WHO CAN NOMINATE? (continued)

WHO CAN NOMINATE? (continued) You are an elector of the district if you: (1)live in the district, and are on the State Electoral Roll for the address where you live OR

WHO CAN NOMINATE? (continued) You are an elector of the district if you: (2)own rateable property in the district, live outside the district, and are on the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll for the address where you live OR

WHO CAN NOMINATE? (continued) You are an elector of the district if you: (3)occupy rateable property in the district (for instance, as a business owner), live outside the district, and are on the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll for the address where you live.

WHO CAN NOMINATE? (continued) Important note: If you are an owner or occupier of rateable property, but do not live in the district, you need to make an application to the relevant local government to go on the roll.

THE CALL FOR NOMINATIONS The Returning Officer for your local government’s elections will publish an advertisement, calling for nominations, between 20 August and 31 August 2011, in newspapers, local government offices and libraries. The notice will include: - The number of vacancies to be filled - The nomination place - The nomination period

THE NOMINATION PERIOD The nomination period runs for one week Beginning on Thursday, 1 September 2011 and ending at 4.00pm on Thursday, 8 September 2011

HOW TO NOMINATE Complete a nomination form (Form 8) OR ask an agent to complete a form for you (Form 9). A nomination using Form 9 must be accompanied by a written authorisation from you. * All forms related to local government elections come from the Local Government (Elections) Regulations 1997, and are available from the Department of Local Government website, or your local government. Write a candidate profile. Give or send these to the Returning Officer with $80 as a deposit between 1 September and 8 September Remember that nominations close on 8 September 2011 at 4.00pm.

THE CANDIDATE PROFILE Candidate profiles are displayed on local government notice boards. Your profile: must be written in English must be no more than 150 words must only include biographical information and statements about your policies or beliefs must not contain information that is false, misleading or defamatory must be capable of being printed on a single A4 page must include your full name and contact details may include a recent head, or head and shoulders, photograph of passport size

PLANNING YOUR CAMPAIGN Find out if your election is: *a Voting in Person election or *a Postal election

PLANNING YOUR CAMPAIGN (continued) In a Voting in Person election, electors generally vote in person at designated polling places on election day. (There are alternatives, but more on that later.) Voting in Person elections are usually conducted by the local government itself, with the CEO as Returning Officer.

PLANNING YOUR CAMPAIGN (continued) In a Postal election, voting packages are mailed to electors, who then fill in their ballot papers and return them by post. Postal elections are conducted by the Western Australian Electoral Commission, which also appoints the Returning Officers for these elections.

ALTERNATIVE VOTING METHODS FOR VOTING IN PERSON ELECTIONS Early voting is available at the place nominated by the Returning Officer in the Election Notice. Postal voting is also available for Voting in Person elections, by making an application to the CEO of the relevant local government using Form 12. Absent voting is available at any local government office in Western Australia from the date of issue of the Election Notice.

Last day to enrolFriday 26 August 2011 Nominations openThursday 1 September 2011 Nominations close Thursday 8 September 2011 at 4.00pm Commencement of early and absent voting (only applies to voting in person elections) Publication of the Election Notice in The West Australian newspaper Close of early voting Friday 14 October 2011 at 4.00pm ELECTION DAY! Saturday 15 October 2011 IMPORTANT DATES

PREPARING YOUR CAMPAIGN Make note of the important dates. Prepare your campaign strategy. Check your local government’s local laws regarding election signs.

PREPARING YOUR CAMPAIGN (continued) All election material must display the name and address of the person who authorised it. All election material must display the name and address of the person or business responsible for printing it.

CAMPAIGNING Voting in Person elections Election campaigning peaks on election day. Most voters vote on election day. Electors may not know about the election. You may need to appoint campaign assistants at polling places on election day.

CAMPAIGNING Postal elections Campaigning needs to start early as: 50% of electors vote within 2 days of voting packages being mailed to them. 60% of electors vote within a week of voting packages being mailed to them. only a small number of electors hand in their votes at a polling place on election day.

CAMPAIGNING Strategies include: getting to know your area and your neighbours telephoning people you know expanding your 150 word profile in material given to your electors making contact with local organisations responding to issues raised by electors giving interviews to local media advertising in local newspapers developing a website distributing leaflets and pamphlets

DECLARING DONATIONS Both you, and your donors, must disclose any donations: of $200 or more in value given, or promised, within 6 months prior to election day Disclosures must be made in writing on the Disclosure of Gifts form (Form 9A) which is to be lodged with the CEO of the local government.

DECLARING DONATIONS (continued) On nominating for council, you and your donors must disclose any existing gifts, or promises of gifts, within 3 days. Any gifts or promises made after this must be disclosed within 3 days of being made. Any gift of $200 or more received from an unidentified donor is to be provided to the CEO for disposal.

APPOINTING SCRUTINEERS A candidate is not permitted in the polling place other than to cast a vote. Scrutineers are authorised by the candidate to observe the conduct of the election at the polling place and to scrutinise ballot papers at the counting of votes. Scrutineers must not take custody of postal votes. Appointment of scrutineers is made on Form 18, available from the Returning Officer.

WHEN YOU’RE ELECTED Support from the Department of Local Government for Mayors, Presidents and Councillors: Telephone and advice Publications Post election support programs for elected members

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM OBJECTIVES The Minister for Local Government announced the voluntary local government reform program in February The objective is to create fewer, stronger local governments with: Enhanced capacity for improved service delivery Improved ability to meet community expectations Capacity to plan, manage and fund infrastructure of all forms Capacity to negotiate strategic partnerships with the State and Federal Government and private sector, and Capacity to provide more effective advocacy for communities.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM STRATEGY The specific aims of the State Government’s reform initiative are to: Amalgamate local government areas, where possible and appropriate Reduce the number of councillors to between six and nine per council Encourage a greater focus on long-term planning, and Strengthen the ability of local governments to deliver services to their communities.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM OPTIONS Structural reform is being progressed through Amalgamations, Regional Transition Groups (RTG) and Regional Collaborative Groups (RCG). RTGs are offered to local governments to undertake a cost benefit analysis of the benefits to the community of amalgamation. RCGs are offered to local governments in regional areas such as the Kimberley, Pilbara, and Goldfields (where vast distances mean amalgamation is not a priority) to maximise opportunities for collaborative arrangements. To date, 47 local governments have or are participating in these processes, with State Government funding support.

CAPACITY BUILDING The reform initiative has a capacity building program, to raise the level of skills and understanding across the sector. All local governments are being required to develop and implement: Medium and long term strategic planning based on a common planning framework Asset management systems aligned to National Frameworks Long Term Financial Plans based on a common planning framework, and Workforce Plans to address skills and retention issues. The Department of Local Government is providing Frameworks and Guidelines, Case Managers and funding for training, advice and specialist consultancies.

STAND FOR COUNCIL Your Vote Your Community

DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT Contact number:(08) Freecall: (Country Only) Advisory Hotline: Website: