South Perth council risk funding loss if it does not re-establish local implementation committee

The LIC was formed by the City of South Perth and Town of Victoria Park to provide a framework for the merger of the two councils and part of Canning.

South Perth withdrew participation from the committee in May as a protest to the State Government and said it would not rejoin until the Government honoured funding commitments.

There has been no formal contact regarding reform with the Town since.

At a special council meeting on November 4, the council resolved to not re-establish the committee until there was an outcome from the Supreme Court action the City is participating in or the issue of the Governor’s Orders.

The council has now been advised by the Department of Local Government and Communities (DLGC) that government funding was contingent on the establishment and operation of an LIC.

According to the DLGC Metropolitan Local Government Reform Funding Package Funding Guidelines, it is a condition that two representatives from the Department are included as a non-voting member on the local implementation committee established as a governance mechanism to progress the merger.

Victoria Park Mayor Trevor Vaughan said the Town fully respected the right of South Perth to decide its position in relation to local government reform.

Councillors described it as a ‘ploy’ and ‘blackmail’ but are due to make their decision at the South Perth meeting tonight.