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Councillor Reports Back On Local Government ConferenceLocal government can play an important role in leading the community through involving communities in government decision making; facing local community challenges; By Latrobe City Shire Council - 12th April 2007 - Back to News and taking on global responsibilities as those better off helping those who have less. These were three issues taken to heart by Latrobe City councillor, Susan Lloyd, who recently participated in the Commonwealth Local Government Conference held in New Zealand.
The conference, held every two years, is the major event run by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum to bring together local government policy and decisions makers, including ministers, mayors and other leaders. This year’s conference took place in Auckland and was hosted by the New Zealand government’s Department of Internal Affairs.
Key speakers over the three days were Rt Hon Helen Clarke, the prime minister of New Zealand; Hon Edward Nogoyai Lowassa, the prime minister of Tanzania; President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the president of Uganda and chair designate of the 2007 CHOGM; and Most Hon Portia Simpson Miller, the prime minister of Jamaica.
Cr Lloyd who was the only Victorian delegate among the 600 who participated, said the conference has broadened her view and perception of what a community is, and the important role that local government can take in leading the community.
"My approach as a councillor, to consult and engage with the community, has been confirmed by the other conference delegates. In order for local government to lead the community we must listen to what our communities’ issues are, and not be afraid to hear what some of the options for solutions are, which may come from those concerned.
"Listening to the community does not necessarily mean an increase in expenditure, it means that we can earnestly involve the community as stakeholders and seek solutions with them in partnership," Cr Lloyd said.
Cr Lloyd explained that delegates had come from more than forty Commonwealth countries ranging from Antigua and Barbuda to the United Kingdom, India and Zambia.
"My experiences of the world had previously only been within Gippsland and some travelling to Europe, and I have never had exposure to such a diverse range of communities before," Cr Lloyd revealed.
"The conference challenged my understanding of issues confronting communities in Africa, India, Pakistan and our own surrounding communities such as the Solomon Islands, directly impacted by the recent Tsunami.
"While many communities world-wide are facing similar issues such as planning for aging populations, urban renewal, better use of public money and the importance of leadership, one cannot help being moved by an address such as from the mayor of Windhoek in Namibia, where the local government issues are extreme poverty, access to potable water and basic services, and HIV/Aids.
"Working with other delegates engenders a deeper understanding not only of other communities and nations, but about oneself and what one often takes for granted. For example, I met the Lord Mayor, Alfred Maetia from Honiara City Council in the Solomon Islands at the conference. With the Tsunami he has lost family members, and hearing directly from someone about the impact of such a disaster, puts issues into perspective.
"One of the key speakers who advises the UN, really challenged the delegates to consider that the poorest of the poor don't need to be told they need more assistance, and that in the poorest of countries local government doesn't even come close to having a budget.
"Professor Jeffrey Sachs who is a director of the Millennium Project for the UN challenged the conference delegates to do more for those countries in need, to take action instead of just words, and consider a sister city relationship to be with a third world country on a more fundamental level involving the community.
"Our own sister city program for example, could consider a partnership or relationship with a third world country such as Sierra Leone, which has just gone through an eleven-year civil war that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people - about one-third of the population. In this relationship we could conduct a needs assessment, link our schools as a learning and awareness project, and overall see how we could make a real practical connection and make a difference," Cr Lloyd said.
"I am happy to share some of the insights from the conference and this fantastic opportunity that I have had to increase my learning and understanding of ‘the local community’ on a broader scale," Cr Lloyd added.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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