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Amalgamation Is It a Dirty Word?

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Amalgamation Is It a Dirty Word? The 2010 LGMA Emerging Leaders present.... Amalgamation Is it a dirty word? A collection of your thoughts, opinions and stories. Intent This report is not intended to be an in-depth analysis of the pros and cons of local government amalgamations. Our goal is not to research and present facts and figures about past and possible future amalgamations. Rather, this report is a collation of ideas, thoughts, and experiences from a wide range of stakeholders to local government. Overview Those who have been around local Just over 50% of all respondents believed government for more than a few years will that amalgamations resulted in an no doubt have found themselves involved in improvement in local government operations discussions about council amalgamations and there was 54% support for further at some point. This report seeks to consider metropolitan council amalgamations. the topic of amalgamations through a The survey responses revealed that the review of the thoughts, experiences and reasons for this support varied widely from perceptions of the various local government individual to individual, stakeholder group stakeholders. to stakeholder group. To inform the report, a survey was A key finding of the survey was that there completed by 446 stakeholders to local is still a high degree of concern about the government including staff across all benefits of and angst about the process levels of responsibility, elected members, of the amalgamations undertaken in 1997 state government employees and a and this would need to be addressed prior range of community and private industry to any further amalgamations proceeding. representatives. Respondents provided So is amalgamation a dirty word? frank views on the topic as well as insights What are your thoughts? Read on to into the range of emotions that the topic discover the results of our research into can stir. your personal opinions and stories. Most respondents had strong opinions as to whether previous amalgamations had been beneficial to local government and whether the long term successes that were achieved outweighed the short term turmoil that the process creates (or which future amalgamations could create). Throughout this report, the term ‘council’ is used generally to describe local government geographic areas, rather than the elected bodies that represent the residents within these areas. A collection of your thoughts, opinions and stories. 1 MALLALA LIGHT GAWLER BAROSSA PLAYFORD SALISBURY TEA TREE GULLY Introduction PORT ADELAIDE ENFIELD The subject of copious media articles, CAMPBELLTOWN university studies, general public debates CHARLES PROSPECT ADELAIDE MID WALKERVILLE The Survey STURT NORWOOD MURRAY and even parliamentary inquiries both PAYNEHAM HILLS within South Australia and interstate, ST PETERS The questions in the survey sought to ascertain WEST ADELAIDE there have been few more contentious information and opinions about people’s TORRENS BURNSIDE issues in recent times than local UNLEY individual experiences with and knowledge government amalgamations. of local government amalgamations. Local government stakeholders were specifically HOLDFAST In 1997, local government in targeted and a total of 446 respondents BAY MITCHAM South Australia underwent its biggest completed the survey, with many agreeing to be transformation in decades. From a total interviewed to provide more detailed feedback. of 119 councils across the state, the South Australian government facilitated Questions were set out in such a way that MARION the amalgamation of urban and regional opinions and statistics could be drawn upon to MURRAY councils to result in just 68. The move was MOUNT BRIDGE assist in presenting some of the common feelings BARKER promoted as beneficial to both the councils and opinions among the key groups on the often themselves and the communities they serve, controversial topic of amalgamation. Further particularly in terms of cost savings and analysis of the data enabled us to consider the ONKAPARINGA the efficient provision of services. views of those in rural vs metropolitan areas and those who have and have not experienced an But how did the various stakeholders both amalgamation. within local government itself; the staff, elected members, the representative body Respondents kindly endured a barrage and externally; the residential community of questions relating to the impacts of and the private sector, perceive the move? amalgamation on the various stakeholder groups From their viewpoint, were the promises of as well as their views on the environmental the mergers ever realised? Were there any impacts, community culture, financial benefits, unexpected results, positive or negative? resource sharing and the extent that they would What were their personal experiences? ALEXANDRINA like to see further amalgamation. The survey And drawing from all of this, would revealed a range of personal opinions on they support further local government the success of previous amalgamations and amalgamations in South Australia? perceived impacts that further amalgamations YANKALILLA may have. Planning SA (1) 2 Amalgamation - Is it a dirty word? A collection of your thoughts, opinions and stories. 3 “As a resident, ratepayer and employee, I am still waiting to see if there are any real benefits.” My Story Andy Gourlay Parking & Traffic Officer, Kay Fothergill City of West Torrens Internal Training Advisor, City of Onkaparinga I was working at the City of Noarlunga at the time of the amalgamation to form the City of Onkaparinga in 1997. There were potentially financial benefits, opportunities for skills transference and other gains that we would all work towards, Local Government Employees’ Perspective but at the time we could not see this through the mayhem. Faced with an increased workload in the short term, staff displayed a lot of mixed emotions but predominantly negativity and stress. We were told to embrace the people from other councils with whom we would amalgamate and we were able to do this. Some staff members were counselled prior With more than 9,000 employees working Though amalgamations make for uncertain What do the statistics say? to the amalgamation and were better equipped to cope with in 68 councils(2), local government is and often competitive times, many the change. These people became the change champions as one of the most diverse workforces in employees highlighted the possibility of a More than half of the respondents felt we stood back and watched. With the reduced number of South Australia. There is no question that wider variety of positions in larger councils that amalgamations improved the overall positions, there was also a great feeling of loss and guilt felt by amalgamations have a huge impact on and the opportunities for promotion or operations of local government, and only those staying over those leaving. local government employees. The change career change that go with it as positive 13% felt that no services improved as It was a fresh start but you need strategies in place (around every certainly casts waves of uncertainly amongst outcomes. A larger organisation is often a result of council mergers. This clearly aspect of the amalgamation), not knee jerk reactions. We had staff members once the merger decision better placed to win grants and government demonstrates that in the opinion of local three different email applications prior to the amalgamation. has been made. funding and is more capable of rolling government employees, the changes Once the new council was formed, we bought a new system. out bigger projects, creating exciting resulting from amalgamation have a This created a massive training requirement. I was the main The primary concerns identified by opportunities for employees. Despite being positive effect in the long run. However, trainer of the new system, with one person to back me up. respondents who work in the local disruptive and time consuming, with a the implementation of these changes I trained solidly for five weeks and was extremely tired, so tired government sector were the loss of temporary increase in staff workloads and and the impact on the people within that I couldn’t remember my address when I ordered a pizza one jobs, the forced change in roles and the night! We needed more forward planning and consultation with hours, the majority of respondents believe corresponding councils varies greatly. “From all my experiences, whenever amalgamation transformation in organisational culture. key stakeholders as to how best we could move forward and that amalgamations can result in new and is talked about, a phrase that always appears is implement new systems. The changes were so full on - no gradual It is a particularly stressful time for those improved systems, processes and software Of the local government respondents, “short term pain, long term gain.” This is how progression! One solution might have been to let the teams get having to reapply for their own jobs, and that improve overall efficiency and provide 41% believe that amalgamations have I feel about them.” together (from each of the three councils) pre-amalgamation to for those retaining their jobs, having to better customer service. a negative impact on employees, settle into new teams involving people work out the processes and systems in advance. 30% think they have a positive impact, Sergio Cesaro from the corresponding merging councils. The common factor across most of 27% were unsure, and 2% consider they Facility Support Officer, City of Charles Sturt I believe the community feel (of the smaller councils) had a With this brings challenges of shifting the employees surveyed was the have no impact at all. Just over lot of benefits. The larger you get, the more familiarity you strong loyalties to the former council’s individual emotional response during 54% would support further amalgamations, lose. Residents didn’t get the same service they did from the culture, systems and processes and to the implementation of amalgamations. 16% are staunchly against the notion, smaller council because employees weren’t focused on the little things, for example, remembering to empty the bins after embrace a different way of doing things.
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