Re-imagining Community Councils in Canada

The University of Toronto’s Institute for Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG) has just released a research paper that reviews the City of Toronto’s longstanding system of community councils and takes the opportunity to ‘re-imagine’ the scope of this form of local governance. The review follows moves by the government of Ontario to strengthen the use of community councils across the province.

The IMFG paper considers the function and scope of community councils across Canada, including their theoretical underpinnings and how they fit into cities’ legal and policy framework. It notes that cities are made up of neighbourhoods that have their own histories and practices, and residents who claim a place within the city’s governance model. So one way in which large cities have reacted to this complexity of interests within their boundaries is to create governance bodies, including community councils, that operate at a smaller scale than the city level and offer a forum to capture local voices.

The paper outlines a broad range of options for strengthening the role of Toronto’s community councils, and makes three specific recommendations aimed at striking ‘the right balance between the needs of the community and the authority of City Council.’ First, to redefine what is considered to be a ‘local’ or ‘citywide’ matter, thereby allowing community councils to examine a greater range of issues. Second, to expand delegation to community councils, perhaps including some budget decisions, and thereby take more issues off the City Council’s own agenda. This would not only increase legislative efficiency, but also empower more local decision-makers. Finally, to allow residents to serve directly on community councils (currently membership is limited to ward councillors), whilst perhaps introducing a further layer of advisory resident committees.

A number of the issues discussed in the IMFG papers mirror debate about Auckland’s much newer ‘local boards’. And whilst the scale of the City of Toronto and hence its community councils far outstrips anything that might be created in Australia, much of the experience, theory and matters of principle explored in this review also resonate here.

The paper is available at: https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/imfg/research/doc/?doc_id=447

 

Recent post-graduates show the way with local government practitioner research

An important approach to fresh thinking about local government and community governance that LogoNet seeks to encourage is local government practitioner research.

Eight current exemplars of practitioner research have been published as part of the UTS:CLG Graduate Paper Series, which is accessible on https://www.uts.edu.au/research-and-teaching/our-research/public-policy-and-governance/news/utsclg-graduate-paper-series-4 . The research was conducted in 2016 by Master of Local Government students at the University of Technology Sydney. A listing of the studies (provided below) highlights not only the breadth of local government activity, but also the benefits of conducting this activity in a research-minded way:

1. Anne Shearer – It’s all in the delivery: An exploratory case study focusing on the Coffs Harbour City Council Delivery Program 2010-2016
2. Antonio Franze – The Challenges of Engaging Communities: Will the small rural voices be heard in a merged regional council?
3. Colby Farmer – Urban Design Principles for Creating Public Open Space Master Plans and their Application to Wagga Wagga’s Riverside Precinct
4. Paul Tracey – Australian Local Government Botanic Gardens’ contribution to Global Plant Conservation
5. Amanda Bray – 21-year partnership – has it made a difference? Evaluating the Fairfield Health Partnership
6. Steven Lawler – Managing trees in the public domain
7. Nicole Campbell – Investigating ethical paradigms and values: Potential influences on decision-making by elected representatives
8. Anthony O’Reilly – Information and communication technology change and adoption in local government: A New South Wales exploratory study

We hope that this body of work will inspire all of you in the sector to engage in practitioner research and to share your work with others.

Inaugural LogoNet Meeting Summary

Inaugural LogoNet Meeting Summary: held on Wednesday 2nd November 2016

First LogoNet Meeting

First LogoNet Meeting: Key Themes, Issues and Suggested Actions. The key messages from the first LogoNet meeting held on 2nd November 2016.