Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance
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Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance |
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Graham Sansom
UTS Centre for Local Government and Editor
This first issue of the Commonwealth e-Journal of Local Governance focuses largely on the Pacific region, but the issues discussed resonate throughout the Commonwealth. It highlights a number of common themes linking research and practice in New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and the United Kingdom, as well as opportunities and mechanisms to build capacity in the developing countries of the Pacific and elsewhere.
The journal’s purpose is to bring together perspectives of both researchers and practitioners from Commonwealth countries, and to disseminate information, ideas and practice. To achieve this objective, it will include a wide range of contributions grouped under four headings.
▪ Research and Evaluation: peer reviewed research papers, typically 6-8000 words
▪ Commentary: shorter scholarly pieces that put forward a particular viewpoint on an area of research or practice
▪ Practice: articles describing current practices in local governance and development
▪ News and Reviews: short notes on current or forthcoming events, and book reviews.
As well, the journal will from time to time publish special articles or background papers to provide in-depth information on a particular aspect of local governance or development in the Commonwealth. This issue includes a background paper on local government in the South Pacific that discusses what ‘local government’ means in the region’s mostly small island states; how it relates to traditional governance; how systems of local government are developing and the challenges they face, especially in terms of funding and resources; and some of the steps being taken to build capacity and initiate necessary reforms. Data is limited and this is very much a work in progress, but a valuable contribution nonetheless, and a building block for further research.
The four peer reviewed research papers and several other contributions to this issue focus on the inter-related issues of local government’s place in the system of government and how it interacts with central governments; its key role in bringing about effective neighbourhood governance and addressing neighbourhood disadvantage; and the use of community indicators to inform local strategic planning.
Christine Cheyne examines the recent evolution of a strong central-local government partnership in New Zealand, linked to new legislation that empowers local government to promote social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing. She suggests that despite some ongoing tensions and a continuing mismatch in the balance of power between central and local government, there has been a discernible improvement in inter-governmental relations and what may be termed a ‘localist turn’. Peter McKinlay’s practice note provides further detail on associated developments in New Zealand, specifically the recent inquiry into local government rating (property tax), and the Royal Commission established to review governance of the Auckland metropolitan region – in which central-local relations are a key factor.
Graham Sansom’s commentary also echoes some of the issues raised by Cheyne. He outlines some of the challenges for Australian local government in dealing with the new federal Labor government and its ideas for improving the operation of the federal system. Similarly, Phang Siew Nooi’s commentary on recent trends in Malaysia deals with central-local relationships in a federation where power is increasingly concentrated at the federal level and local government’s future is far from clear.
Ali Memon and Karen Johnston pick up the themes of local strategic planning and the promotion of wellbeing in the context of formulating and applying appropriate community indicators. They explore the issues involved in developing suitable indicators both at local and regional levels, and as part of a national system. Institutional barriers associated with the lack of national frameworks, and with gaps in working relationships between central and local governments, emerge as a significant obstacle.
Harriet Churchill’s paper on the challenges of neighbourhood governance in England looks at the potential to enhance both decentralised service delivery based on local partnerships, and more effective community engagement. She notes that recent local government reforms provide opportunities for major improvements in the way neighbourhoods are serviced and governed, but wonders whether there is sufficient recognition within central government of the full gamut of changes and supportive policies required.
Jason Prior explores similar issues in the context of New South Wales, Australia, looking at the problem of concentrations of disadvantage in specific urban neighbourhoods, and the emergence of a range of policies and programs that utilize integrated forms of governance to address the issues involved. He argues that local governments are amongst the most effective drivers for these integrated governance approaches, but that effective action requires a transformation of the way councils are organized and operate. There are close parallels between emerging approaches to neighbourhood governance and local strategic planning in Australia, New Zealand and England.
The practice note on planning for sustainability in New South Wales local government by Jade Herriman, Emma Partridge, and Mick Paddon complements the contributions by Prior and Memon and Johnston, by describing the processes undertaken by three councils to formulate broadly-based local sustainability strategies, including in one case the development of a substantial set of community indicators. They argue that sustainability indicators can be highly effective not only in informing the community about progress towards or away from agreed goals, but also engaging them in the process of developing strategies and actions in response.
The commentary by Philip Amis and the practice notes by Lucy Slack and by Terry Parker and Megan Praeger turn to the issues of supporting decentralization and the strengthening of local governance in developing countries. Philip Amis reflects on changes in the way development aid is being delivered and whether the new modality of general budget support will support or hinder attempts to decentralize responsibilities to local governments and increase local democratic accountability. Lucy Slack, Terry Parker and Megan Praeger detail the ongoing efforts of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum and its partners to strengthen democratic local government across the Commonwealth and specifically in Pacific island countries. The CLGF Pacific program and related projects in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea highlight the need to work on a very broad front to bring about effective capacity building and good governance.
Graham Sansom , Editor
University of Technology, Sydney
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URL: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/ComJlLocGov/2008/2.html
