By JESSE GRAHAM
WARD funds will be banned for councils across the state by next year’s local government elections, ending a quick but exploitable way of providing funding to community groups.
But Cardinia council’s Manager of Governance Doug Evans said the council could adapt to the change and raised the possibility of creating a grants program instead.
On 26 August, Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins announced the Local Government (Improved Governance) Bill 2015 which will bring in “tougher standards” for councillors state-wide.
The bill, which has been introduced to parliament, will require councillors to agree to codes of conduct when they take office, force councils to establish procedures to deal with alleged breaches, and will allow councillors to be suspended for six months for serious misconduct.
Councillor discretionary funds, or ward funds, will also be outlawed if the bill is passed.
Mr Evans said that ward funds were used to support “deserving groups and individuals” in the area and that funds were agreed on by a council resolution – not left to a councillor’s discretion.
Although he said the council had not yet formed an opinion on the bill, he said the funds were “valuable” when used properly.
“We agree that there are some risks for the misuse of ward funds however when monitored appropriately, they are a valuable way to support the community,” Mr Evans said.
He said that if ward funds are outlawed, the council may consider creating a “competitive grants program” with the allocated funding.
Deputy Premier and Monbulk MP James Merlino said the bill will give councils and the Victorian Government “a broader range of powers” to deal with councillors who breach codes of conduct.
“Councils do important work in representing their communities.
“We need to ensure that the actions of one rogue individual don’t impact an entire council,” he said.
“Unfortunately, too often ward funding was not being used appropriately.
“These reforms recognise that funding should be transparent and not the decision of a single individual.”
He said the contents of the bill came after reports from the Local Government Inspectorate and the measures in the bill will be in place ahead of October 2016’s local government elections.
To view Cardinia council’s ward fund allocations for the year to date, visit bit.ly/1Nr7vsL.
