Reform in New South Wales August 2011. The Warringah Council, on Sydney’s northern beaches, has released a discussion document to start a dialogue with its communities and neighbouring councils on options for the future of local government. It’s the first response to the State Government’s destination 2036 initiative for local government across the state.
The Cooperative Council This January 2011 report (The Co-operative Council Sharing power: A new settlement between citizens and the state) discusses the UK Lambeth Borough Council's proposals for a new approach to public service delivery, based on doing things with its communities rather than to the community. The Council put its proposals out to the public a year ago and set up a Cooperative Council Citizens' Commission to report back and make recommendations on implementing the Cooperative Council approach.
Cities: Who Decides? A cross country study of decision-making in cities by the Grattan Institute, an Australian think tank. The study is about city governance and focuses on who makes decisions about our cities and how they are made, emphasising the importance of good engagement rather than structure in getting good outcomes.
Shared Necessities: The Next Generation of Shared Services February 2011. This report from the New Local Government Network shifts the debate about shared services from the periphery of local government activity to the core, with a compelling argument for a new approach.
