April 2025
Michael Courtney
Executive Chairman | Managing Director
Navigating Uncertainty: Challenges and Support for Local Government
We are about to vote for our national government. The importance of our vote, and maintaining a democratic society supported by strong institutions, has been reinforced in recent months with unprecedented international events. Who would have predicted the impact of tariffs, plunging stock markets worldwide, currency devaluations and the potential for a recession internationally and in Australia? This is the unstable global environment we will be challenged by!
Domestically the cost of living, the energy debate and generational inequity dominate the conversation during the election campaign.
The Local Government environment is increasing in complexity, the community is challenged with rising costs and people are hurting.
Further instability in the CEO ranks continues to unsettle Councils as they prepare their 2025/26 Budgets and Council, Corporate and Community Strategic Plans.
There are 12 CEO positions vacant in Victoria- 15% of the Councils are looking for leaders in the coming months.
We’ve also seen turbulence in CEO and GM ranks in Queensland and NSW following recent Council elections.
People vacating the CEO role talk about the 24/7 demands, difficult community interactions and of course managing challenging elected representative relationships. Being a Local Government CEO is a complex role demanding excellent leadership skills and well-developed emotional intelligence and judgement. In addition, there is high demand for professional competence and team building skills and ability to lead a large and diverse organisation.
If you’re a CEO or Director in Council and need support with a specific issue or are seeking coaching or mentoring, please contact me and we will match your requirements to one of our experienced CEO Associates. From a simple conversation to solve an immediate problem, through to a structured leadership or technical program – we can be of assistance.
The financial sustainability challenge, in a rate capped environment with communities demanding higher levels of service, will continue to disrupt Councils. We recently assisted the Essential Services Commission with a rate cap variation application and saw the predicament of a Council attempting to make ends meet. We suspect there will be many more applications to the ESC to address future financial challenges.
Having assisted Councils in NSW with their rate variations to IPART we have the experience, data and knowledge to assist Councils.
Our Sustainable Council Program provides the mechanism and levers for Council to examine key components of the financial sustainability challenge. If you have any concerns regarding your Council’s long term financial position, please consider the program – it will take 2.5 hours out of your day to participate and unlock a transition plan to address priority issues.
We continue to deliver our strategic Service Planning program which also examines the long-term financial sustainability of Councils services – can Council continue to provide the current range of services at their current level into the future? Do we understand the future demand for our services? Do we have a mechanism to make comparative choices and prioritise our service mix to remain sustainable? We deliver a Service Management Framework, Service Catalogue, and an ability for Council to strategically address these issues.
Our Asset Management services are busy assisting Councils with Asset Plans, digital Asset Management Plans, condition assessments and of course asset valuations. We are assisting two of the largest Councils in the country settle their Asset Management Framework, through to undertaking building condition assessment for small Councils in the Gulf- of Carpentaria – quite an array of clients!
Demand for placements is continuing as Councils struggle to find appropriate candidates to fill vacant positions and respond to emergency events. Lack of “resources and skills” seems to be a recurring theme from within the local government sector!
Our Associates achieve excellent results. We rely on our Associates’ experience and wisdom, which differentiates us from many of our competitors. Most of our team are former CEO’s Directors and managers who have lived Local Government, understand the environment, and bring experience and expertise to the client Council. CT Management Group doesn’t only “deliver a project or placement” we also leave an organisation’s team with greater experience and knowledge.
Finally on behalf of the Board, Management and Staff, I wish you all a Happy Easter and hope you have a restful time with your family and friends.
Michael Courtney
Executive Chairman | Managing Director
CT Management Group