8 February 2022
New Board meets for first time
Your new LGNSW Board has now been inducted and it was great to finally come together – albeit online - for our very first meeting last week.
It is a terrific group of Directors representing city and country, and I am particularly pleased to see that we have almost achieved a 50-50 gender balance!
Sadly, the unavoidable proximity of our Board Election and the 4 December Local Government election means we are one Director down: a fresh election will be held for this position on a date yet to be determined by the Australian Electoral Commission.
In the meantime, you can “virtually” meet your elected Board representatives here – I know each of us is looking forward to meeting you in person at the rapidly approaching Special Conference from 28 Feb–3 March in Sydney.
Our initial Board meeting completed the typical establishment processes and discussions undertaken by our councils at their initial meetings, with Directors elected to our range of Board working committees. We’re now calling for Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified individuals interested as serving as the Independent Member of our Audit and Risk Committee, which monitors and provides oversight of LGNSW’s risk management, internal controls, audit, financial management and compliance functions.
Audit and Risk Committee role details
We’re also calling for Expressions of Interest for general managers and their representatives to serve on our Industrial Advisory Committee (IAC). The IAC plays a critical role in assisting the Board on IR issues in our sector and helps develop policies relating to industrial relations and employment in NSW local government.
Lodge an EOI for IAC
Closing the Gap
I’m pleased to report that LGNSW’s sustained advocacy last year has borne fruit with our push to ensure the State Government partners effectively with local government to drive better outcomes for Aboriginal communities.
General managers should soon be receiving a new Closing the Gap fact sheet for councils, which features some of the fantastic initiatives already being delivered by our councils and their communities, as well as suggestions on how councils can contribute to meeting Closing The Gap outcomes through their plans and delivery programs under the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework.
Included in the package is a new template to assist a stocktake of local government partnerships with Aboriginal organisations and communities, which I encourage all councils to complete and return.
Our Pre-Budget Submission to the NSW Government calls on the NSW Government to establish a grant program for councils to help our sector contribute to the success of NSW’s Closing the Gap Implementation Plan, and this process should help bolster our calls.
Deadline approaches for Nominated Voting Delegates
It’s a new month and the countdown to our Special Conference is well and truly on, with just over a week until the final 17 February deadline for the registration of Nominated Voting Delegates. Don’t forget: registration of Voting Delegates is a separate process from conference registration and should be undertaken via the web form.
International Women’s Day
This year’s International Women’s Day Luncheon on 8 March looks as if it will soon be another sellout event, with remaining tickets available.
Our fantastic guest speaker, Jennifer Robinson, will address this year’s theme of #BreakTheBias as women across our sector come together against the backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to join the conversation on empowering, inspiring and motivating individuals and communities to help forge women's equality.
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