Elector Representation Review Phase 3

The City of Unley is currently undertaking an Elector Representation Review to determine whether its community would benefit from an alteration to the Council’s composition or ward structure.

Background

Council must undertake a review approximately every eight (8) years. At the June 2020 Council meeting, Council endorsed the commencement of the Elector Representation Review and it is due to be concluded by October 2021.

A Representation Options Paper was issued for consultation purposes in November 2020. The Options Paper included five (5) ward structure options and sought feedback from the community in relation to those options.

Twenty-two submissions were received in response to the Options Paper.

A Representation Review Report was issued for consultation purposes in April 2021. The proposed structure at this time was the division of the Council area into five (5) wards and the future elected body comprising the Mayor and ten (10) ward councillors.

Thirty-four submissions were received in response to the first Representation Review Report. One verbal submission was also made to Council at the meeting held on 24 May 2021.

Council’s deliberations in determining the previous proposed structure had regard to proposed amendments to the Local Government Act 1999 set out in the Statutes Amendment (Local Government Review) Bill 2020, which applied a cap of 12 members, including the Mayor. Amendments during the legislative process saw this cap increased to 13 within the Statutes Amendment (Local Government Review) Act 2021 which was assented to by the Governor on 17 June (after the conclusion of the consultation process on the Representation Review Report)

Following an extensive review process and community feedback, Council has resolved to return to the community with an alternative preferred representation structure, being the existing structure and/or composition of the Council of six (6) wards, the Mayor and twelve (12) ward councillors.

What does this review include?

Section 12 of the Local Government Act (the Act) outlines the requirements of the review to ensure fair and equitable representation of all City of Unley electors. The review must consider the following elements:

• The principal member of Council;
• The composition of Council;
• The number of elected members required to adequately represent the community and perform the roles and responsibility of Council;
• The division (or not) of the Council area into wards;
• The number of wards;
• The level of representation and elector ratio within each ward;
• Ward names;
• The Council name (if required).

Having completed two rounds of public consultation, Council has amended its preferred future elector representation arrangements. In brief, Council proposes to:

• Retain a Mayor, elected by the community, as the principal member; and
• Retain the existing ward structure which will comprise six (6) wards, with each ward being represented by two councillors (i.e. a total of twelve (12) councillors).

To assist with the progression of the review a second Representation Review Report has now been prepared, setting out the full details, including the results from the first and second rounds of public consultation as well as the rationale for the choice of the preferred representation arrangement.

How can I have a say?

At the Council meeting held on 26 July 2021, Council endorsed a public consultation process, which will commence from 5 August 2021 and will conclude on 31 August 2021 (which includes the mandatory 3-week consultation period) for the Representation Review Report.

Interested members of the community are invited to make a written submission expressing their views on the proposed composition and structure of Council. Any person(s) making a written submission will be invited to appear before a future Council meeting to be heard in respect of their submission. At this stage Council intends to hear these submissions at its meeting commencing at 7.00pm on the 27 September 2021, however, this is subject to the number of submissions to be made. If necessary, a separate meeting may be convened for this purpose.

Submissions can be made as follows; and will be accepted until 5pm on Tuesday 31 August 2021.

• Online: completing the survey below
• Email: pobox1@unley.sa.gov.au or
• Post: written submissions to the Chief Executive Officer, PO BOX 1, Unley SA 5061.

Next steps

• A report will be prepared for Council which includes all submissions made during this consultation period
• Council will consider submissions in context of the report and make their final determination on the Review
• Final decision and recommendations are submitted to the Electoral Commissioner SA for certification and government gazettal.
• Any changes to composition and/or ward structure will come into effect at the next Local Government election (scheduled for November 2022)

Further information regarding the Elector Representation Review can also be obtained by contacting: Kathryn Goldy, Acting Executive Manager, Office of the CEO on 8273 8750 or kgoldy@unley.sa.gov.au