ResourcesMembershipGood Practice ToolkitSOLGM EventsBusiness School EventsLocal Government Careers
  Username & Password: Home  Toolkits Home  About  About Toolkits  FAQs  Toolkits FAQs  Feedback  Toolkits Feedback  Contact us  Toolkit Contact 


>> Welcome to the SOLGM Good Practice Toolkits Website

Using This Site

This site is the point of access to good practice material developed by SOLGM for local authorities in New Zealand.  It contains two broad groups of material. 

The panel on the left of the screen provides access to the guidance modules developed by the SOLGM Risk Management and Legal Compliance Working Party.  This material is password protected and available only to staff of the local authorities that subscribe to this programme.  To access this please enter your local authority's password and username in the panel above.  If you do not know your local authority's password you can get this from your local authority's contact person for the programme.  To identify your contact person click here    [Note if your have entered the site through your local authority's intranet the password and username are not needed.  If you would like to have such a link set up for your local authority contact dmackay@solgm.org.nz.] 

  • For further information about legal compliance and the SOLGM Risk Management and Legal Compliance programme >>>>
  • A brochure containing general information about the programme can be downloaded here >>>>  Please share this with colleagues in work areas relevant to the programme's modules.

The site also contains a wide range of other good practice material which is freely available without the need for a password.  This includes material developed by the Financial Management, Electoral and Strategic Planning Working Parties and entries for the New Zealand Post Management Excellence Awards.  For a full list and for access to this material go to the Site Map >>>>. 

 

Risk Management Seminar 2009

The 2009 seminar was held on 23 November at the James Cook Hotel in Wellington.  Thanks to JLT for their generous support of this event.

We will be scheduling a further seminar during 2010. Anybody who has material they would like to present, or topics about which they would like to hear please contact dmackay@solgm.org.nz

Risk Management Training for Local Authority Managers

Many managers in local authorities are expected to manager risk within their areas of responsibility.  Generally however they will not have had any training in the specific techniques of risk management.  We have worked with Chris Peace of Risk Management Ltd to develop a one day training package designed to give such managers basic grounding in risk management.  The package is based around the structure of the new Risk Management standard AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 and is designed to be delivered to groups of 15 to 24 managers from one or more local authorities.  This is not a package where we will set a dates and venue and advertise for participants.  Rather the idea is that we will take the package to local authorities who are interested in providing a venue and a sufficient core groups of participants.  We are keen to trial the package early in 2010.  If your local authority is potentially interested please contact Don Mackay dmackay@solgm.org.nz

New Zealand Post Group Local Government Excellence Awards
l

The 2009 awards attracted a record 44 entries with 51 local authorities represented in the projects entered.  Winners were announced at the SOLGM Conference in Palmerston North on 6 September.  A full display of al entries in the awards will be published on this site later in the year.
Risk Management Listserv
 

A wide range of staff within local authorities have risk management as an important aspects of their responsibilities.  in order to create a forum for the sharing of information and views on risk management issues a Risk Management listserv has been established through Local Government Online.  The list is open to all local authority staff.  You may subscribe to a mailing list by sending an email to listserv@listserv.localgovt.co.nz  with the words "subscribe riskmanagement" in the message body.  people other than local authority staff interested in joining the list should contact dmackay@solgm.org.nz

 

SOLGM Risk Management and Legal Compliance Programme Current Module Reviews

Four modules are currently under review

  • Rates Rebates - A review of this module is substantially complete and we expect to publish the revised module by the end of November.
  • Resource Consents - This module is affected by the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act 2009. A module review team met to workshop the necessary changes.  The outcomes of the workshop are currently being reviewed.  We are aiming to publish the revised module in early December.
  • Building Consents - This module will be affected by

    provisions of the Building Amendment Act 2009 which will have affect from 1 February 2010.  A review team is meeting to identify the changes requitred on 1 December.  

  • Employment - This module is due for its regular review.  As the first step of the review Simpson-Grierson are currently conducting a legal review.  If the scale of change recommended is significant we will call together a module review team to address these.  People interested in contributing to the review please contact Don Mackay dmackay@solgm.co.nz

  • Health and Safety - This module is due for its regular review.  As the first step of the review Simpson-Grierson are currently conducting a legal review.  If the scale of change recommended is significant we will call together a module review team to address these.  People interested in contributing to the review please contact Don Mackay dmackay@solgm.co.nz

SOLGM Risk Management / Legal Compliance Programme

The programme is based on a cooperative approach to developing “good practice” legal compliance processes and procedures across a range of local government activities, utilising the existing knowledge base within local government and sharing the costs.

The objective of the programme is to assist local authorities in identifying and meeting their legal obligations through:

  • Developing and maintaining a legal compliance framework for local authorities, upon which specific legal compliance can be developed; and
  • Developing a series of specific legal compliance programmes across the range of local government activity.

The specific modules that have to date been developed are published on this website.  The modules are password protected.  Each member local authority has a password.  If you do not know your local authority's password you can get this from your local authority's contact person for the programme.  To identify your contact person click here  

The programme was featured as a case study at the International Best Practices Symposium in Melbourne in May 2004.  You can download a copy of the case study write up >>>>

New and Revised Legal Compliance Modules 2008/09

During 2008/09 the Risk management and Legal Compliance Programme has as its main focus, the review and revision of existing guidance modules.  This involved in some cases reviews of the content of module, and in others the updating of the format and presentation of material.  During the year new versions if nearly all modules were published.  These are summarised below. 

  • Liquor licensing  -  new version published in April 2009.  This revised the format and presentation of material.  The last revision of module content was completed in August 2007;
  • LIMS -  new version published in November 2008.  This is included substantive changes to the content of the module
  • Tendering and Procurement - new version published in April 2009.  This revised the format and presentation of material.  The last revision of module content was completed in August 2007;
  • LGOIMA - new version published in April 2009.  This revised the format and presentation of material.  The last revision of module content was completed in August 2007;
  • Dog Control - new version published in June 2009.  This is an expanded version of the module with the additional of several new flow diagrams and links top the National Dog database module. 
  • Employment - new version published in April 2009.  This revised the format and presentation of material.  The last revision of module content was completed in August 2007;
  • Rates Billing and Collection - new version published in April 2009 - This revised the format and presentation of material.  The last revision of module content was completed in August 2007;
  • Resource Consents - new version published in April 2009.  This revised the format and presentation of material.  The last revision of module content which involved significant changes was completed in October 2007;
  • Bylaw Making  - new version published in December 2008.  This revised the format and presentation of material.   The module was first published in November 2007;
  • Privacy  - new version published in March 2009.  This revised the format and presentation of material.  The last revision of module content which involved significant changes was completed November 2007)
  • Building Consents - new version published in February 2009.  This followed a review of module content and resulted in substantive changes.
  • Property Sales Acquisitions and Leases - new version published in June 2009. This revised the format and presentation of material.   The revisions following the previous review were published in February 2008;
  • Health and Safety (revised following review - published May 2008)
  • National Dog Database - a totally redeveloped module was published in June 2009.
  • Enforcement – a totally redeveloped module was published in February 2009

In addition a review of the Rates Rebates module has recently been completed and a new version of the module will be published early in 2009/10.

Newsletters from Working Party (March 2008)

Download newsletters:

  • Reporting on the Working Party's Meeting of November 2007 >>>>
  • Reporting on the Working Party's Meeting of March 2008 >>>>The date for the next meeting of the Working Party is yet to be set but is likely to be in early June 2008. 

Simpson Grierson Provider of Legal Services to the Programme (April 2006)

On 26 April 2006 an agreement was reached for Simpson Grierson to become the provider of legal services to the Legal Compliance Programme.  This will involve Simpson Grierson providing legal vetting of all new module material from that date.

 



New Zealand Post Group Local Government Excellence Awards 2009 - All entries are now available online.  Award and Commendation Winners >>>>,  To view entries by category: Council-Community Relationships Part 1 >>>>; Council-Community Relationships Part 2 >>>>; Building Organisational Capability >>>>; Improved Local Regulation >>>>; Joined Up Local Government >>>>.

New Zealand Post Group Local Government Excellence Awards 2010 - entries are now open.  For entry information >>>> (May 2010)

Revised Building Control Module - A new verison of the module was published on 17 March >>>>

Risk Management and Legal Compliance Programme - New versions of Resource Consents >>>> and Rates Rebates >>>> modules published (December 2009)

DIA Analysis of Final 2009-19 LTCCPs (26 October 2009) - Now available >>>>

2009 BERL Adjustors (24 October 2009)- now available >>>>

Revised Risk Management and Legal Compliance module (July 2009) Property Sales Acquisitions and Leases >>>>.

Revised Risk Management and Legal Compliance modules (June 2009) National Dog Database >>>>, Dog Control >>>>

Revised Risk Management and Legal Compliance modules (April 2009)Resource Consents >>>>, Liquor >>>> Rates Billing and Collection >>>>.

Exposure Draft -  A Template for Reporting Local Government Finances (March 2009)>>>>

BERL Price level Change Adjustors March 2009 Update  Now available >>>>

Revised Risk Management and Legal Compliance modules (March 2009)LGOIMA >>>>, Privacy Act >>>>

2008 New Zealand Post Group Local Government Excellence Awards (Feb 2009) All entries online >>>> 

Revised Risk Management and Legal Compliance modules (Feb 2009)Tendering and Procurement >>>>, Enforcement >>>> Employment >>>>, Health and Safety >>>>, Building Consents >>>>

SOLGM Briefing Paper for Incoming Minister of Local Government (Feb 2009) available here >>>>

Report to SOLGM Electoral Working Party on Visit to Observe English Local Elections and Meetings With Key Agencies - April/May 2008 (December 2008) now available >>>>

"Developing Local Authority Revenue Systems": An Update (November 2008) The new version of "The Green Book" now available >>>>

BERL Forecast Estimates of Household Income (November 2008) >>>>

"Hot Topics" in Risk Management Seminar - Presentations now available (November 2008) >>>>

Not Just Hot Air- The guide to the ETS and the 2009-19 LTCCP - Is now available >>>> (4 November 2008)Final BERL Adjustors - for use in preparing 2009-19 LTCCPs now available (October  2008)>>>>

Fit for the Future - the SOLGM guide to Taking a Sustainable Development Approach to the 2009-19 LTCCP now available (September 2008) >>>>

2008 Financial Management Seminar - presentations now available (August 2008) >>>>

Leading Practices Symposium - Case studies now available (June 2008)  >>>>

"Telling Our Stories" - The guide to LTCCP summary documents for the 2009-19 LTCCP is now available (June 2008)>>>>

2009-19 Audit Methodology - The Office of the Auditor-general has provided an advance copy of the "for public release" version of the audit methodology (May 2008) >>>>

Revised versions of Building Consents >>>> and Property Sales and Acquisitions >>>> Legal Compliance modules published (Feb 2008) 

SOLGM Briefing Paper for Incoming Minister of Local Government (Nov 2007) >>>>

"2009 and Beyond" - Guidance for the 2009-19 LTCCP -  >>>> "Dollars and Sense - The guide to Financial management under the LGA2002" now available >>>> (November 2007) "Performance Management Frameworks - Your Side of the Deal" guide now available >>>> (October 2007) Piecing It Together" guide now available >>>> (October 2007) Living Through the LTCCP" guide now available >>>> (August 2007

Revised versions of Legal Compliance Modules published - LIMs, Liquor Licensing, Tendering and Procurement, LGOIMA  (August 2007), Dog control, rates Billing and Collection (Sept 2007), Resource Consents (Oct 2007), Bylaws, Privacy Act (Nov 2007)

The guidance modules published by the programme are designed to assist local authority managers gain assurance that their processes comply with legal obligations.  They are not a substitute for the seeking of professional legal advice and the exercise of sound judgement about when it is necessary to do so.