Authors:Olanrewaju O Ogunnubi Pages: 5 - 16 Abstract: Nigeria is a decentralised federation with a three-tier system of federal, state and local governments. Arising from this decentralisation, local governments are empowered to exercise certain powers and responsibilities in areas relating to grassroots development, local democracy and service delivery. Hence, local government plays a pivotal role in local governance. This paper synthesises studies on local government in Nigeria within the broader context of decentralisation and local governance. It takes a careful look at the emergence of local government in Nigeria as well as the debate on local government autonomy. The paper reveals that Nigeria’s decentralisation policy has largely failed to deliver autonomy to local governments, whose funds, functions and activities are controlled by state governments. Key challenges to the effective performance of local government include inadequate funding, constitutional ambivalence, abuse of state control, political instability and corruption. The paper ends with recommendations for improving the functioning of local government to enhance local governance. PubDate: 2022-12-20 DOI: 10.5130/cjlg.vi27.7935
Authors:Mpfareleni Mavis Netswera Pages: 17 - 36 Abstract: This paper examines the implications of municipal re-demarcations on service delivery through a case study of the Collins Chabane and JB Marks local municipalities in South Africa. The former is the result of a merger of two rural areas that were carved out of adjoining municipalities. The latter was established following the amalgamation of the erstwhile municipalities of Tlokwe and Ventersdorp, including the major centre of Potchefstroom. Thus, the two case studies are quite distinct in terms of racial demographics and history. Between 1995 and 2016, South Africa witnessed a significant reduction in the number of its municipalities, from over 800 racially based local authorities to 257 democratically elected municipalities. This trend reflects a belief that smaller municipalities are inefficient and not financially viable. However this study’s empirical findings, which were mainly obtained through a survey, suggest that mergers do not necessarily lead to improved local government capacity or efficient service delivery. The paper recommends further consideration of alternative models that can improve service delivery efficiency through voluntary cooperation or other collaborative arrangements. PubDate: 2022-12-20 DOI: 10.5130/cjlg.vi27.8132
Authors:Delanie Sky, Hedy Bryant Pages: 37 - 56 Abstract: The women who aspire to the role of a local government councillor in rural and regional areas of Australia are still breaking new ground. This paper presents research findings, by a woman who stood for election, concerning some of the barriers women face in achieving public leadership in regional and rural local governments (‘councils’). It explores the motivation and leadership styles of six women candidates campaigning in two neighbouring all-male councils in regional New South Wales in 2017. The study used heuristic inquiry in which the researcher and participants share a personal lived experience of the issues being studied. Heuristic inquiry allowed for an intimate and creative presentation of the research. Key findings were that gender disparity was not a significant motivator for five of the six women. The main motivator was service to their community with all six women favouring a servant leader style. PubDate: 2022-12-20 DOI: 10.5130/cjlg.vi27.7864
Authors:Karen Webster, Charles Crothers Pages: 57 - 82 Abstract: This article examines the extent to which Auckland Council candidates and elected members have reflected the diversity of the unitary city’s population since the amalgamation in 2010 of eight former local authorities. The findings confirm that electoral candidates have become more ethnically and gender diverse at the local board level, but city-wide the trend away from New Zealand’s traditional European, male and older local representatives has been less pronounced. Overall the research presents an optimistic picture of post-reform representation in Auckland local democracy. There has been a significant increase in representation of women and Pacific and Asian people. However, the ongoing challenges facing Māori to achieve fair and effective representation in Auckland raise questions about the efficacy of the Local Electoral Act 2001, as the Auckland Council persistently chooses to retain first-past-the-post voting for its electoral system. PubDate: 2022-12-20 DOI: 10.5130/cjlg.vi27.8277
Authors:Gerard Turley Pages: 83 - 101 Abstract: Assigning recurrent taxes on immovable property to cities, municipalities, and rural districts is a common practice around the world. The Republic of Ireland is no different, with its annual taxes on real property assigned to local government. Following the 2008 financial crisis and the austerity era that ensued, Ireland’s property taxes underwent major reform, most notably the design and implementation of a new residential property tax 35 years after abolition of the previous system of ‘rates’ on residential properties. In this paper the new or different features of Ireland’s residential property tax are outlined, including the use of self-assessment and valuation bands, innovative payment methods and also the multiple compliance mechanisms for taxpayers. While recognising the importance of country-specific and local circumstances in property tax design, the paper concludes that elements of Ireland’s new residential property tax have potential lessons for other jurisdictions contemplating similar tax reform. These relate to the key tax principles of simplicity and public acceptability, and on specific design features of assessment and valuation, and collection and compliance. PubDate: 2022-12-20 DOI: 10.5130/cjlg.vi27.8464
Authors:Tomas Hachard Pages: 102 - 124 Abstract: In Canada, municipalities are involved in an increasing number of policy areas, but they remain largely absent from the nation’s system of intergovernmental relations. Municipal representatives do not attend First Ministers’ meetings that gather the Prime Minister and heads of each province and territory. They are also largely excluded from intergovernmental councils or committees focused on specific policy areas. Nor do they participate in the negotiation of most intergovernmental agreements. This paper explores how Canada’s intergovernmental infrastructure could be reformed to include municipalities. It does so through an analysis of how other countries have made space for municipalities in their intergovernmental processes. After drawing five lessons from international experience, the paper concludes with four approaches to reforming intergovernmental relations in Canada: (1) ensure municipalities have the capacity, voice and structures to participate effectively in intergovernmental relations; (2) increase municipal involvement in provincial policy-making, including potentially through co-governed intergovernmental councils; (3) as far as possible, eliminate unfunded mandates(ie responsibilities devolved without adequate funding to discharge them) through, for example, provincial legislation or provincial–municipal intergovernmental agreements that require consultation on the fiscal impacts of draft legislation or regulation on municipalities; (4) strengthen trilateral (national/provincial/municipal) relations, including through location-specific or policy-specific agreements, and trilateral intergovernmental councils. PubDate: 2022-12-20 DOI: 10.5130/cjlg.vi27.8480
Authors:John Phillimore, Alan Fenna, K K Pandey, Jean Drage, Eghosa E Osaghae, D M Powell, Andrew Walker Pages: 125 - 157 Abstract: To expand on the themes identified by Tomas Hachard’s paper 'Capacity, voice and opportunity: advancing municipal engagement in Canadian federal relations', the Journal commissioned six personal ‘perspectives’ from a diverse group of other Commonwealth countries – Australia, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa and the United Kingdom (UK). This replicated the model adopted in Issue 26 for Zack Taylor’s paper on 'Regionalism from above: intergovernmental relations in Canadian metropolitan governance'. Similarly, the purpose was to establish a broader picture of issues and trends across the Commonwealth, rather than ‘review’ Hachard’s work. PubDate: 2022-12-20 DOI: 10.5130/cjlg.vi27.8491
Authors:Astrid Haas Pages: 158 - 169 Abstract: This commentary examines the demise in 2010 of the Kampala City Council, and the factors that led to its replacement by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). It outlines some of the different institutional arrangements associated with the establishment of KCCA and resulting changes in the overall management of the city, the outcomes of those changes, and the implications for Uganda’s decentralisation processes, as analysed through the specific lens of the city’s revenues. Finally, it discusses how many of these reforms may be, perhaps necessarily, short-lived as a result of the tensions they created. PubDate: 2022-12-20 DOI: 10.5130/cjlg.vi27.8445
Authors:Bronwyn Kelly Pages: 170 - 180 Abstract: In most states of Australia, legislation for some form of integrated strategic planning enables local communities to move towards the centre of decision-making and planning for a better future. Experience with these laws is now being researched to determine if the principles and process they embody could also work at the national level. The first part of this paper focuses on the specific model of ‘Integrated Planning and Reporting’ in New South Wales, while the second part discusses how a modified form of the concept could work nationally. PubDate: 2022-12-20 DOI: 10.5130/cjlg.vi27.8254
Authors:Sarah Artist Pages: 181 - 187 Abstract: This article summarises information collected from interviews with outgoing and newly elected councillors before and after the elections in December 2021 and across four municipalities in Sydney, New South Wales. Councillors expressed the challenges and difficulties they faced during their term on council, and many were ill-prepared and needed more guidance. The aim was to harness the information to shape and direct the support that new councillors need in order to fulfil their roles. The article describes an approach in which various players within the council work in a collaborative way to support the decision-making role of the governing body, so that individual councillors are equipped to work on a common agenda with camaraderie and consensus to achieve strong and effective civic leadership. PubDate: 2022-12-20 DOI: 10.5130/cjlg.vi27.8465
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