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CITY OF PAE
ANNUAL REPORT
2016-2017
OUR COUNCIL
The City of Por t Adelaide is one of the 68 Local Government authorities in South Australia.
Local Government is integral to the democratic system of government in Australia which
provides vital economic, social and environmental suppor t 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 Councils. More than one in
three people voluntarily choose to exercise their democratic
right by voting in Council elections.
The City of Port Adelaide Enfield is made up of Elected
Members and administrative staff. Together they are
responsible for civic leadership, 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 17Ward Councillors,
is the decision-making body on policy and strategic 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.While
Elected Members receive an allowance for expenses, they
are acting in a voluntary capacity and are involved in making
the City a better place in which to live, work and recreate.
Elected Members often make difficult decisions about complex
and important matters. Elected Members are assisted by the
administration that works under the direction of the Chief
Executive Officer.
Council’s 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, officer 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 financial year.The Delegations
Manual is available on our website.
Average Representation Quota
The City of Port Adelaide Enfield is divided into seven wards
and is represented by the Mayor and 17 Councillors. The area
currently has 80,807 electors which equates to one elected
member per 4,753 electors. Councils of a similar size and type
have average representation quotas ranging from 3,702 to
6,071 per elected member.
Council conducted an Elector Representation Review during
2016 and 2017 as required under Chapter 3, Part 1, Division 2
of the Local Government Act 1999. The review considered:
• Whether the principal member of Council should be
a mayor elected by the community or a chairperson
selected by (and from amongst) the elected members:
• The division of the Council area into wards, or the
abolition of wards.
• The number of elected members required to provide fair
and adequate representation.
• The need for area councillors in addition to ward
councillors (under a ward structure).
• The identification of an appropriate ward structure
(if required) and the level of ward representation.
• The naming/identification of any proposed
future wards.
The process undertaken was comprehensive and included two
distinct periods of public consultation during July – September
and October – November 2016. Having considered all the
components listed above Council submitted a report to the
Electoral Commissioner SA in March 2017 proposing the
retention of a mayor elected by the community and community
representation by 17 Elected Members together with retention
of the existing seven wards.To ensure equitable representation
across the seven wards it has been proposed that the
boundaries of three wards have minor adjustments.
Following certification from the Electoral Commissioner SA
the recommended changes will become effective at the next
periodical Local Government election (four-yearly intervals)
which is to be held in November 2018. TheWard structure is
to remain the same with minor boundary re-alignment affecting
the Parks, Port Adelaide and Semaphore wards. In line with the
eight year cycle of review, the next statutorily required Elector
Representation Review is scheduled to occur in 2025.
COUNCIL PROFILE
The City of Port Adelaide Enfield has:
Elected Members including the Mayor
80,807
Electors
61,024
Rateable Assessments
Wards
7
123,947
Residents
18