LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1999 - SECT 26
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1999 - SECT 26
(1) The South
Australian Local Government Boundaries Commission should, in arriving at
recommendations for the purposes of this Chapter (but taking into account the
nature of the proposal under consideration), have regard to—
(a) the
objects of this Act; and
(b) the
roles, functions and objectives of councils under this Act; and
(i)
the resources available to local communities should be
used as economically as possible while recognising the desirability of
avoiding significant divisions within a community;
(ii)
proposed changes should, wherever practicable, benefit
ratepayers;
(iii)
a council should have a sufficient resource base to
fulfil its functions fairly, effectively and efficiently;
(iv)
a council should offer its community a reasonable range
of services delivered on an efficient, flexible, equitable and responsive
basis;
(v)
a council should facilitate effective planning and
development within an area, and be constituted with respect to an area that
can be promoted on a coherent basis;
(vi)
a council should be in a position to facilitate
sustainable development, the protection of the environment and the integration
of land use schemes;
(vii)
a council should reflect communities of interest of an
economic, recreational, social, regional or other kind, and be consistent with
community structures, values, expectations and aspirations;
(viii)
a council area should incorporate or promote an
accessible centre (or centres) for local administration and services;
(ix)
the importance within the scheme of local government to
ensure that local communities within large council areas can participate
effectively in decisions about local matters;
(xi)
residents should receive adequate and fair representation
within the local government system, while over-representation in comparison
with councils of a similar size and type should be avoided (at least in the
longer term);
(xii)
a scheme that provides for the performance of functions
and delivery of services in relation to 2 or more councils (for example, a
scheme for regional governance) may improve councils' capacity to deliver
services on a regional basis and therefore offer a viable and appropriate
alternative to structural change; and
(d) the
extent and frequency of previous changes affecting the council or councils
under this Chapter or the repealed Act.
(2) The Commission
should, so far as is relevant, give preference to structural changes that
enhance the capacity of local government to play a significant role in the
future of an area or region from a strategic perspective.