Council's Next Moves After 2021 Transparency Report

The City of Ballarat made only 3.28 per cent of Council decisions behind closed doors in the 2020-2021 financial year. This figure compared with 9.05 per cent for similar sized Victorian councils and represented a drop of 80.24 per cent in decisions made in camera.

Why the 2021 figures still shape current work

Lower rates of closed meetings allow residents to follow how the council handles matters such as rates, services and planning. The same report showed community satisfaction with council decisions at 58 per cent, above the 53 per cent recorded for similar sized councils. These results set expectations for continued openness in later years.

Checklist progress recorded in 2021

The City of Ballarat had completed 23 of the 24 items on the governance and management checklist by late 2021. Adopted items included a Community Engagement Policy, a Procurement Policy, a 10-year Financial Plan passed at the 27 October Council Meeting, a Revenue and Rating Plan, a Risk Management Framework and Performance Reporting. The single remaining item was an Asset Plan listed as due in 2022.

Key decisions ahead

With the checklist largely complete, attention turns to finalising the Asset Plan and maintaining the policies already in place. Council will need to ensure the plan meets state requirements while preserving the low rate of in-camera decisions achieved in 2020-2021. Residents can track progress through the Know Your Council reports released by Local Government Victoria.

Regular review of the adopted policies will also form part of ongoing work. The 10-year Financial Plan and Revenue and Rating Plan provide the framework for budget choices, while the Risk Management Framework guides how emerging issues are handled in public sessions. Completing the Asset Plan will close the final gap identified in the 2021 assessment.