This is our last eNews for 2010, and yes, it is mercifully short. The eNews will resume in the second week of January as we gear up for the VLGA Board Elections (see below). On behalf of the Board, our CEO Maree McPherson and all the talented VLGA staff, I’d like to extend the season’s greetings to all of our members, friends and supporters. Stay safe, remember it’s a great time to spend time with your family and friends, and also to show kindness towards those less well-off in our communities. The VLGA office will close at 5pm this Thursday 23 December, and will re-open on Tuesday 4 January 2011.
A year of much change, with more to come?
As we all contemplate what the recent State Election will mean for a new partnership between the Coalition and local government, it’s fascinating to see debate raging in the UK about the new policy directions of the Coalition Government there. Whoever thought that our challenges concerning funding and cost-shifting are unique might be interested in some bed-time reading over the holiday break. The UK Institute for Public Policy Research’s (IPPR) response to the recent Localism Bill in the UK welcomes the decentralisation of key powers to councils and communities but says that the Bill represents a cosmetic commitment to localism as it does not deliver new funding streams that give local people more control over how their taxes are spent. See the whole article and more information about the UK Localism Bill here.
VLGA Board Election Voters’ Roll closes at 5pm tomorrow, Wednesday 22 December
Nominations will open at 9am on Friday 21 January, and close at 5pm on Friday 28 January. You can download the Nomination Form here. If you have any queries about your membership status, please contact Member Resources Officer Sarah Colgan by email or telephone (03) 9349 7983. See the Election Guide here, more information about the role of President here, and more information about the role of Board Members here. If you would like to talk to me about the elections and the Board, give me a call on 0438 006 656.VLGA Events
2011 Essential Mayors’ Weekend
27-29 January 2011
Peppers The Sands Resort, Torquay
For more information go here.
Cr Heinz Kreutz
President
Email or 0438 006 656
No comments:
Post a Comment