Hobart City Council’s governance model focused on transparency

Hobart City Council’s governance model focused on transparency

Published on 07 November 2023

The Hobart City Council has marked the one-year anniversary of the new portfolio-based governance model, a significant step towards enhancing transparency, community engagement, and effective decision-making.

Since the inception of this approach to governance, the City of Hobart has implemented this governance model and achieved notable milestones, reinforcing the City’s commitment to serving our community better.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said this was a significant, beneficial change after initially being met with some resistance.

"The transition to our new governance model has been an essential and exciting journey for our city,” Cr Reynolds said.

“It has allowed us to be more responsive to the needs and expectations of our community, while ensuring a higher level of accountability in local government."

Key Achievements and Highlights from the Past Year:

Engagement with the Council: In the past year, the City of Hobart has received 926 Elected Member Requests, with an average response time of 5 days, which is lower than the 10-day average when the process was established. Elected Member Workshops: A total of 24 Elected Member Workshops have been conducted, facilitating collaborative discussions and innovative ideas. Induction Program: The introduction of an extensive induction program has been instrumental in acclimating new members to their roles, helping them better serve our community. EM Retreats: Two Elected Member Retreats have been held, providing a platform for in-depth discussions between Elected Members and the Executive Leadership Team, to inform the budget and annual planning. Portfolio Committee Meetings: A total of 11 Portfolio Committees, which have held 27 Portfolio Committee Meetings since their establishment in April 2023, involving up to 100 community members. Governance Review: An interim governance review has been conducted, with another scheduled for early next year to ensure continual improvement. Elected Member Public Interest Register: The establishment of this register reflects contemporary community expectations on transparency in local government, emphasizing our commitment to openness and accountability. Council Meetings: We have conducted 14 Council Meetings and 22 Planning Committee Meetings, making informed decisions for the betterment of our city. Weekly EM Bulletins: Over the past year, 51 weekly Elected Member Bulletins have kept our members informed and engaged.

As well as those actions above, the City of Hobart has also made available thousands of pages of documents and reports through the Elected Member information hub, illustrating the City’s commitment to transparency and information accessibility.