FAQs

On 20 September 2022, Hon John Carey MLA, Minister for Housing, Lands, Homelessness and Local Government sent a memorandum to all local government Chief Executive Officers regarding a proposed series of reforms aimed at strengthening local democracy and increasing community engagement.  

In this correspondence, the Minister stated that the proposed reforms may require some local governments to: 

1. Reduce the number of elected members on Council in accordance with population thresholds. 
2. Change from a Council elected Mayor or President to a directly elected Mayor or President (this reform affects only band 1 and 2 local governments). 
3. Abolish wards (for band 3 and 4 local governments with wards). 
4. Implement more than one of the above. 

The City of Nedlands is a band 2 local government. 

The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) has completed an initial review and identified that the City of Nedlands may need to reduce the number of elected members under the proposed reforms. 

In response, the City has been asked to consider two options to achieve the reforms: 

1. Voluntary Pathway 
2. Reform Election Pathway 

Under the Voluntary Pathway, the City can decide to implement these changes on a voluntary basis. If Council wishes to undertake this process, it should, by 28 October 2022: 

1. Advise the DLGSC of its intention to undertake a voluntary process. This advice should include a high-level plan outlining the potential changes to be implemented for the ordinary elections to be held in 2023 (and in 2025, if applicable); and 
2. Initiate a Ward and Representation Review to determine the specific changes to the structure of the Council for the 2023 and 2025 ordinary elections, to be completed by 14 February 2023. 

Under the Reform Election Pathway, amendments to the Local Government Act 1995 are expected to be introduced into Parliament in early 2023. This Amendment Act will provide for all the proposed changes to be implemented through the 2023 election process. 

This pathway would provide that all of the Council’s offices can be declared vacant, all wards can be abolished (if applicable) and the number of Council offices would be set based on the reform proposals. For local governments in band 1 or 2, the newly elected Council would then be able to consider whether to establish new wards through a future ward and representation review. 

Given the uncertainty of the Reform Election Pathway, Council has decided to pursue the Voluntary Pathway and initiate a ward and representation review.  

Schedule 2.2 of the Local Government Act 1995 provides that a local government of a district that is divided into wards may carry out a review as to — 

 whether or not the district should be divided into wards; and

1. if so — 
2. what the ward boundaries should be; and
3. the number of offices of Councillor there should be for each ward,

 so that no more than eight years lapse between each review.

 The Act further provides that when undertaking a review of wards and representation, any of the following may be considered:

 Creating new wards in a district already divided into wards;

• Changing the boundaries of a ward;
• Abolishing any or all of the wards into which a district is divided;
• Changing the name of a district or a ward;
• Changing the number of offices of Councillor on a Council; and
• Specifying or changing the number of offices of Councillor for a ward.

Clause 8 of Schedule 2.2 requires a Council to assess options against the following factors:

• Community of interest;
• Physical and topographical features;
• Demographic trends;
• Economic factors; and
• The ratio of Councillors to electors in the various wards.

Members of the community are invited to make a written submission about any aspect of this review.

Submissions must be received by the City by midday on Tuesday 20 December 2022 and can be made:

• Online via the City’s website
• By mail to the CEO, City of Nedlands, PO Box 9 Nedlands WA 6909;
• By delivery to the City offices during normal office hours from Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm at 71 Stirling Hwy, Nedlands.

Under the Reform Election Pathway, amendments to the Local Government Act 1995 are expected to be introduced into Parliament in early 2023. This Amendment Act will provide for all the proposed changes to be implemented through the 2023 election process.