LGMA -

Welcome to
Local Government Managers Australia, Queensland

Are You a Member of LGMA?

LGMA is not just a network and advocacy group for CEOs. Our membership is comprised of managers at all levels and from all professions. Almost anyone who has experience in local government and who has line responsibility for another staff member can be a member of LGMA. In addition, anyone working in local government who perhaps is relatively new to the sector or does not yet have line responsibility can be an Affiliate member.

By having membership of LGMA, you will receive regular advice on the reform process and other issues facing local government and you will also be able to contact LGMA to seek advice on personal circumstances as well as having regular opportunities to network with other local government professionals outside your council.

## SPECIAL OFFER ##
LGMA Queensland will give FREE to the first thirty (30) new approved applications, a copy of "Just About Everything a Manager Needs to Know" by Neil Flanagan and Jarvis Finger. This book covers over 200 topics and provides step-by-step solutions to management problems and issues.

For more information on Membership and How To Join, please click here.

Queensland Local Government News

Local Government Reform
As changeover day draws nearer, LGMA continues to advocate for members' interests on local government reform. The State Transition Committee, Staff Support Sub-Committee and Indigenous Sub-Committees are all meeting fortnightly in order to tidy up any loose ends. We are your direct link to these committees and can generally provide advice on the intent and interpretation of the various guidelines. If there are any issues we can't address, we will elevate the issue to the relevant committee for determination. The State Transition Committee meets every second Wednesday, Indigenous Sub-Committee on Tuesday and the Staff Support Sub-Committee on Monday (starting week of 21 January) so let Peta know what issues you need addressed before these meetings.

The Management of Change Toolkit continues to be updated as new information becomes available. Most importantly, as LTCs are signing off on different aspects of the transition, many are making those documents available to us so other areas can benefit from their work. The Toolkit now contains a range of examples of work plans, communication plans, engagement strategies and agreements which may be relevant to your area. The online toolkit is accessible under the "Policy" tab on this website.

With Interim Structures now taking shape, LGMA is receiving a large number of inquiries from members who wish to better understand their options. As an LGMA member, we are happy to work with you to assist you in considering your personal circumstances as a result of reform and the impacts it may have. We are also happy to provide contact points for additional information or assistance if you need it.

In case you have missed any of our emails outlining different aspects of reform, they are listed in this site. To view, please click here.

Local Government Act Review
In October 2007, LGMA, on behalf of our members, provided a submission to the Director-General on which aspects of the Act work well and need to be protected and which areas are ineffective or hinder good government.

To download LGMA's Submission to the Local Government Act Review, please click here (3MG).

State Government had indicated that part of its intention was to remove unnecessary regulation (ie. micro level issues) and refocus the Act to provide more strategic regulation of local government in Queensland. Since the change in leadership and Minister, we have had little further commitment to this agenda although the Minister, Warren Pitt, has stressed that he sees local government as an important, separate sphere of government.

LGMA has established a committee to undertake some further work on the Act Review in preparation for the next round of consultation. If you are interested in being involved or just wish to provide comments, please contact Peta.

LGMA Professional Development Events 2008

Fair Value, Depreciation & Asset Management Workshops
(May - June 2008)
Local governments across Australia continue to be faced with significant challenges and the need to be transparent with the reporting to the community and state government on:

• Sustainability and the ability to continue delivering services
• Corporate Governance and management systems, and
• Ageing infrastructure and Asset Management Plans.

These issues were also identified in the Local Government Reform Report as the key drivers in Queensland for forced council amalgamations.

These concerns are all linked to one common thread ASSETS.

Councils invest the majority of their resources into assets so as to deliver services to the community. The ability of the community to fund the maintenance and renewal of the assets over their lifecycles determines whether a council is sustainable. Likewise, the strength and quality of the Council’s governance framework provides the mechanism for council and the community to assess the overall performance of the Council.

Workshop Objective
The objective for this workshop is to enhance the understanding of key Asset Accounting and Asset Management concepts by finance, engineering and asset management staff as well as auditors so as to provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to deal with the emerging issues associated with amalgamations and local government reform.

Some of the key areas that will be covered include:
• Local Government Reform
• Governance and Financial Management
• Linkage between Asset Management and Asset Accounting
• Overview of the prescribed accounting requirements
• Fair Value and Depreciation – compliance using practical examples
• Asset Management in a nutshell (for the layman)
• The National Framework for Financial Sustainability for Local Governments (with a focus on Asset Management requirements)
• How to development a robust and compliant Asset Management Framework (using a Case Study example)
• Integrating Asset Accounting and Asset Management. Using the same data to provide meaningful and relevant figures that meet both engineering and accounting needs.

Who Should Attend?
l         Finance Managers
l         Asset Managers & Directors
l         Asset Accountants
l         Risk Managers
l         Auditors
l         Works Managers

Expert Facilitation
David Edgerton is a Director of APV Valuers and Asset Management and is nationally regarded as a leader in Asset Accounting and Asset Management. He developed and delivers the CPA Australia’s Asset Accounting and Asset Management in the Public Sector program nationally and has delivered a similar program for LGMA in New South Wales in 2006-07. He is well known to Queensland Local Governments through his previous career with the Queensland Audit Office, is an active member of IPWEA and has contributed to the development of the NAMS Financial Management Guidelines as a reference group member.

Workshop Dates and Locations

6 May 2008 Brisbane

8 May 2008 Gympie

22 May 2008 Cairns

23 May 2008 Townsville

30 May 2008 Mount Isa (Note Date Change. Original date clashed with Show Day)

2 June 2008 Rockhampton

5 June 2008 Longreach

10 June 2008 Dalby

12 June 2008 Roma

16 June 2008 Maroochy

18 June 2008 Mackay

23 June 2008 Logan

25 June 2008 Bundaberg

Workshop Registration Costs (including GST)

$495.00 LGMA Members
$550.00 Non Members

To download the program and registration form, please click here.

Propeller Program 2008 (formerly known as Emerging Leaders Program)
The Propeller Program offers a combination of expert input and experiential learning models, providing extensive interaction amongst Program participants.

Key elements of the Program inlcude:

Exposure to a broad range of experiences and observations
An active role for participants in self managing and implementing the Program
Local Government case studies and relevant material that can be readily applied to daily leadership and management practices in a local government work environment
A 'learning by doing' approach

The Propeller Program is an outstanding professional development opportunity for those in Local Government who aspire to positions of leadership and those who aspire to provide leadership in a particular area of interest. Over a 12 month period, the participants will attend a 2-day Introductory Forum and eight 1-day workshops each with a different focus.

The Propellor Program was designed by LGPro in Victoria and has been running successfully for 5 years. It has also been taken up by LGMA in South Australia with similar success.

Following are some testimonials from participants in the Victorian program:

"I thoroughly enjoyed every hour of it! I enjoyed the process as much as the result. And of course I got to know so many interesting people from other councils. Wow, what a bunch of personalities! Being a part of such an intellectual powerhouse is a privilge on its own. Thank you for the excellent learning experience LGPro!"
Yuriy Onyshchuk, Senior Research Analyst - City of Melbourne (2006 Graduate)

"Since graduating from the Program I have gained a very different perspective on Local Government. I now have a 'bigger-picture' view of what we do as an organisation and an industry, rather than just viewing my job as the immediate area I work in. The Program enhanced my interest and skills in developing Councils as an inclusive level of government dedicated to developing truly positive changes in our communities."
Simon Rose, Manager Aged & Disability Services - Greater Shepparton City Council (2005 Graduate)

"I found the Program to be one of the most challenging and enjoyable experiences of my life. It helped me to learn so much more about local government and its high level challenges and opportunities, and to really establish a love for the sector I work in. The Program provided fantastic opportunities to establish networks across the sector with colleagues from a variety of Councils and a range of professions, as well as the opportunity to hear from some terrific speakers and to challenge my assumptions and develop my leadership skills. It also provided the opportunity to see how local government works in a variety of contexts and to hear from some of the most experienced and thought providing people in Victorian local government. I would recommend the Program to any local government professional who is interested in expanding their knowledge of the sector, or their own leadership skills and abilities."
Kerryn Stewart-Uden, Organisation Development Coordinator - Bayside City Council (2005 Graduate)

The Program is based on a combination of expert input and an experiential learning model providing extensive interaction amongst Program participants. It is limited to 24 participants to enable maximum individual and group participation and attention.

Program Objectives
The objectives of the Program are to:
* Develop people who will lead Local Government in Queensland in the future
* Develop people who will lead at all levels in their Councils
* Provide an opportunity for participants to network with emerging leaders from different professions to build stronger links and understandings between professions
* Increase appreciation of the wider issues in Local Government in Queensland
* Utilise the resources of the Local Government sector to provide practical experiences of leadership within the Local Government context
* Provide training for emerging leaders that is not necessarily 'management' focused
* Retain emerging leaders within the Local Government sector

The participants for 2008 have been chosen - thank you to all that submitted nominations.

Research & Study Tour Papers

Babyboomers - Where Are They All Going?
Eric Perez
Australian Local Government could not deliver services to the community without the efforts of a highly skilled workforce. Councils across Australia are experiencing difficulties in either recruiting or retaining appropriately skilled staff. Mutliple government agencies, private sector organisations and researchers are drawing similar forecasts for the availability of labour; there will be ongoing shortages of skilled employees.

The ageing of the population, changing demographics and competition for skilled labour within and outside of the Australian Local Government sector suggests that retaining employees will become an increasingly difficuilt proposition. This research paper explores some of the key issues in retaining a specific group of employees in the Australian Local Government sector; the Baby Boomers.

To download this Paper, please click here.

UK Study Tour 2007 - Shared Services
Lyn Russell, CEO - Thuringowa City Council and Ray Burton, CEO - Pine Rivers Shire Council
In June 2007, Lyn Russell and Ray Burton participated in a study tour of capita cities in the United Kingdom to gain an understanding of shared services concepts/models by observing their operation in various locations including Bromley, Coventry, Birmington, Salford, Blackburn and Darwen over 8 days.

To download their joint presentation on the Study Tour, presented at the LGMA Annual Conference, please click here.

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