City leaders are pushing for councillors to be employed full time and paid higher salaries as part of a review of the “outdated” council model.
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As a council election year begins former Ballarat Mayor, Judy Verlin said there was scope for a radical revamp of the existing system which could benefit growing regional cities like Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong.
Under a commissioner type model canvassed by Ms Verlin, one full-time councillor would be elected in each of the city’s three wards.
Ms Verlin proposed senior councillors would have high business expertise, intricate understanding of the needs of the community and ability to advocate to the highest level of government.
"As part of the community election process the senior councillors would have to demonstrate they had the skills and experience to fit the significant responsibilities based on a set criteria," Ms Verlin said. “There is huge room for improvement under the current model for regional cities. Big ticket decisions have to be made by councillors, they determine the future of the cities and influence entire regions.”
While senior councillors would receive a wage increase, Ms Verlin proposed each ward would also have two supporting councillors, paid at a lower rate of up to $15,000.
Their responsibility would be at a grass-roots level, advocating for the needs of community groups and residents.
Committee for Ballarat chair Janet Dore said the current council model was outdated and had lost efficiency.
While she welcomed a review, she raised doubts about the idea.
"I don't see why we should replicate state and federal system unless we go to a cabinet system of local government,” Ms Dore said.
She also questioned if full-time councillors were necessary and compared the concept to board leaders of large corporations who fulfilled their duties on a part time basis.
Councillors at small regional councils are paid up to $18,878 while councillors at larger regional councils and suburban councils are paid up to $23,539 a year. Councillors at metropolitan councils earn up to $28,202.
Mayor Des Hudson told The Courier the idea had merit.
He said councillors often struggled to juggle full-time work with council commitments.
He said there was scope to review a full-time councillor model already operating in Queensland to see if would work in Ballarat.
However, he said any changes to the existing councillor model would be subject to state government approval.
Municipal Association of Victoria president Councillor Bill McArthur said MAV’s long-standing position was councillor allowances should be set at a level that adequately reflects the level of commitment required to discharge the roles and at a level that attracts suitable candidates.
“State Council would be the appropriate forum for members to agree on a change in position on councillor allowances,” Cr McArthur said. “Some councils at our roundtable last November did believe that greater flexibility should be allowed and this matter may be tested further with sector during the review process.”
The government is currently undertaking its first comprehensive review of the Local Government Act since its inception in 1989.
A directions paper on the findings of the landmark review is expected to be released by the middle of the year.
A spokeswoman for Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins said all submissions from across Victoria will be considered.
She added the government welcomed any ideas which increased the accountability of councils to their communities.
