The Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers (DLGWV) has announced the completion of Governance Advisor Chris Rose’s six-month appointment to Redland City Council.
The engagement has delivered a series of recommendations, including short-term process improvements and longer-term strategies to foster stronger relationships, collaboration, and more effective decision-making across the council. Together with a recent Deloitte Consulting report, which outlines additional measures to enhance efficiency, the council has a practical roadmap to guide its efforts in delivering for the Redland community into the future.
However, the department has acknowledged that the Mayor’s extended absence during a significant portion of the Advisor’s tenure limited the Advisor’s ability to deliver as much as anticipated.
Despite this challenge, the Advisor found that the council’s administration performed well and the collaborative efforts of the councillors has ensured the continued delivery of services for the Redland community over this period.
DLGWV Director-General Bronwyn Blagoev said the completion of the Governance Advisor’s appointment marked important progress for the council but highlighted the impact of leadership disruptions on the engagement’s outcomes.
“Chris Rose has provided practical, independent advice to support stronger governance and more effective decision-making at Redland City Council,” Ms Blagoev said.
“However, the Mayor’s prolonged absence meant that key opportunities to address critical governance challenges and foster stronger leadership were missed.
“The Mayor plays a vital role in setting the tone for council operations and supporting cohesion among councillors. Without that leadership, it has been difficult to fully capitalise on the Advisor’s engagement and achieve the level of progress we had hoped for.”
Ms Blagoev commended the efforts of councillors and staff in maintaining service delivery and progress improvements during the engagement.
“Redland City Council has demonstrated its ability to deliver for its community, with councillors and staff working together to ensure services continued uninterrupted,” she said.
“Now, the council has a clear set of recommendations and a practical foundation to improve governance and performance. The department expects the council to take these recommendations forward and remains committed to supporting its efforts to deliver better outcomes for the Redland community.”
Mr Rose said his focus during the engagement was on providing practical guidance to help the council deliver better outcomes for the community.
“It has been a privilege to work with Redland City Council and the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers to help build council’s capacity to better serve its community,” he said.
“The councillors and staff have demonstrated a commitment to improving their operations and serving the people of Redland.”
The engagement was initiated at the request of Redland City Council to provide support in enhancing governance and service delivery. Mr Rose’s work focused on clarifying roles and responsibilities under the Local Government Act, offering guidance to councillors and council staff in a highly complex operating environment, and providing objective advice to the department on how best to support the council moving forward.
The department remains committed to supporting Redland City Council as it works to implement the Advisor’s recommendations and deliver improved outcomes for the Redland community.
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT: media@dlgwv.qld.gov.au | 0457 228 028
See previous Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers media releases.