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OUR COUNCIL
Our City is one of the 68 Local Government authorities in
South Australia.The Local Government system is integral
to the democratic system of government in Australia which
provides vital economic, social and environmental support for
communities.
The Constitution Act 1934 (SA), the Local Government
Act 1999 (SA), and the Local Government (Elections) Act
1999 (SA), create the legal framework within which Local
Government operates and the four-yearly election process
which underpins the representative nature of Local Government
Councils. More than one in three people voluntarily choose to
exercise their democratic right by voting in Council elections.
The City of Port Adelaide En eld is made up of Elected
Members and administrative staff. Together they are responsible
for Civic Stewardship, for the management of the natural and
built environment of our wonderful city, fostering economic
development in partnership with local, state and federal
government and for creating and developing necessary social
and cultural services and programs to enhance the wellbeing of
residents and visitors.
The Council, consisting of the Mayor and seventeenWard
Councillors, is the decision-making body on all policy matters.
The Mayor and Councillors represent the interests of the
community and ultimately are responsible for the workings of
the Council. Elected Members vote on what action will be taken
with regard to issues brought before the Council.
Ordinary meetings of Council are held once a month on the
second Tuesday commencing at 7pm. Members of the public
are welcome to attend.While Elected Members receive an
allowance for expenses, they are acting in a voluntary capacity
and being involved in making the City a better place in which
to live. Elected Members often make dif cult decisions about
complex and important matters. Elected Members are assisted
by the administration that works under the direction of the
Chief Executive Of cer.
Our Council administration operates in accordance with
an array of legislation and is tasked with implementing the
decisions of Council. The Council may delegate many of its
powers, functions or duties to a Council committee, of cer or
employee of the Council and such delegations are recorded in
the Delegations Manual.These delegations are required to be
reviewed at least once in each nancial year.The Delegations
Manual is available on our website.
Average Representation Quota
The City of Port Adelaide En eld is divided into seven wards
and is represented by the Mayor and 17 Councillors. The area
currently has 79,099 electors which equates to one elected
member per 4,653 electors. Councils of a similar size and type
have an average representation quota ranging from 3,666 to
6,019 per elected member.
A review pursuant to Chapter 3 Part 1 Division 2 of the
Local Government Act 1999
is currently underway and changes
from the Representation Review will become effective at the
Periodical Election to be held in November 2018.
The Act also allows ‘eligible electors’ to make their own
submissions on altering the boundaries of the Council or on the
composition of the Council, rather than waiting for the statutory
period of eight years to pass.These provisions are found in
Section 28 of the
Local Government Act 1999
.
Cou ncil Prof ile
The City of Por t Adelaide En eld has
18 Elected Members including the Mayor
Number of Electors:
79,099
Number of rateable assessments:
61,026
Number of residents:
123,754
(2015)
Number of Wards:
7
Council
Presiding Member:
Mayor Gary Johanson
Development
Assessment Panel
Presiding Member:
Mr David Ellis
Audit Committee
Presiding Member:
Mayor Gary Johanson
Chief Executive
Of cer Performance
Development Review
Committee
Presiding Member:
Mayor Gary Johanson
Strategic Planning
Development Policy
Committee
Presiding Member:
Mayor Gary Johanson
DECISION MAKING STRUCTURE
The Council’s principal power to make decisions is delegated
through the
Local Government Act 1999
. A number of other
Commonwealth and State Acts also provide Council with the
power to make decisions. Council delegates some of its powers to
the Chief Executive Of cer, pursuant primarily to Section 44 of the
Local Government Act 1999
.