Elector Representation Review Phase 2

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.

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 the first round of public consultation which provided a number of representation structure options to the community, Council has identified its preferred future elector representation arrangements.

In brief, Council proposes to:

• Retain a Mayor, elected by the community, as the principal member; and
• Introduce a new ward structure which will comprise five (5) wards, with each ward being represented by two councillors (i.e. a total of ten (10) councillors).

To assist with the progression of the review a Representation Review Report has now been prepared, setting out the full details, and the results from the first round 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 22 March 2021, Council endorsed a pubic consultation process, which will commence from 1 April 2021 and will conclude on 30 April 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 24 May 2021, however, this is subject to the number of submissions to be made. If necessary, a separate meeting may be convened for this purpose.

Before providing your feedback, please review the Elector Representation Review Report.

Make your submission by:

• 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.

Submission will be accepted until 5pm on Friday 30 April 2021.

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, Principal Governance Officer on 8273 8750 or kgoldy@unley.sa.gov.au