Presentation Transcript

1. Local Government Reform Survey March 2013
2. Executive Summary3 The study5 Reform options9 Change process17 Table of Contents
3. Executive Summary
4. People in the City of Fremantle are open to change….just 1 in 5 support keeping the status quo with council boundaries. There is most potential for a merger between the City of Fremantle and the Town of East Fremantlewith 3 in 5 residents supporting this amalgamation option. City of Fremantle residents are fairly divided over the option to merge with the Town of East Fremantle and incorporate Rottnest Island, small parts of the City of Melville and the City of Cockburnwith about half of residents opposing this amalgamation option. Other amalgamation options which would incorporate larger areas (merging the City of Fremantle, Town of East Fremantle, Rottnest Island, a major part of the City of Melville, and part of the City of Cockburn, while losing the majority of North Fremantle OR merging the City of Fremantle with the Town of East Fremantle, City of Melville and Rottnest Island) are met with the strongest opposition. Only about 1 in 4 support these options. Residents would like to be involved in the decision making process. The majority of residents would like to have the final say, along with other ratepayers, on any possible merger by way of a vote. Executive Summary
5. The Study
6. % of all respondents (unweighted) During Feb-March 2013, CATALYSE®conducted a community survey with residents, ratepayers and businesses within the City of Fremantle. The overall purpose of this study was to evaluate community opinion on the issue of local government reform. 1227 valid responses were received. Surveys were mailed to all households within the City of Fremantle including a foreword providing respondents with information about possible reform options, processesand implications. Adult residents were invited to complete and return a survey using a reply paid envelope, or to submit their responses online. As older respondents were over represented in the final sample, responses were weighted accordingly Sampling precision is +/- 3% at the 95% confidence interval. An online survey was also promoted and made available to all City of Fremantle ratepayers and business owners and managers. Respondents’ name and contact details were collected and duplicate responses were removed. % of respondents living in City of Fremantle (weighted) (unweighted) The Study
7. Five options are being considered for the City of Fremantle: Option A – the City of Fremantle to merge with the Town of East Fremantle, incorporate Rottnest Island, a major part of the City of Melville, and part of the City of Cockburn, while losing the majority of North Fremantle. This is the MLGRP’s preferred option. Option B – the City of Fremantle to merge with the Town of East Fremantle and City of Melville, and incorporate Rottnest Island. Option C - the City of Fremantle to merge with the Town of East Fremantle and incorporate Rottnest Island, small parts of the City of Melville and the City of Cockburn. Option D – the City of Fremantle to merge with the Town of East Fremantle only. Option E - no change to the City of Fremantle’s existing boundaries. These options are mapped on the next page. Options being considered for the City of Fremantle
8. Options being considered for the City of Fremantle cont.
9. Reform options
10. Which option do you MOSTLY prefer for the City of Fremantle? % respondents E A B D C Q. Which option do you MOSTLY prefer for the City of Fremantle? Please select one response only from the options provided. Base: Residents who provided a valid response (n = 1186) Preferences are mixed, but stronger for a merger with East Fremantle
11. ▲▼ = notable variance ▲▼ = significant variance Q. Which option do you MOSTLY prefer for the City of Fremantle? Please select one response only from the options provided. Base: Those who provided a valid response – Residents (n = 1186); Own or manage a business (n = 190) Preferred merger option Across the community
12. % of respondents (City of Fremantle residents) There is most support for a merger with East Fremantle Q. The State Government review has called for the City of Fremantle to be merged with other councils. A number of options are being considered. Do you support or oppose the following options? Base: Residents who provided a valid response (n = varies from 1093 to 1121)
13. Only 1 in 4 support this amalgamation option, and the majority oppose it. There is stronger support among residents in North Fremantle and Samson, followed by 55+ year olds, malesand businesses. Opposition is stronger among females, residents in Fremantle, O’Connor and White Gum Valley. Merge the City of Fremantle, Town of East Fremantle, parts of the City of Melville and City of Cockburn, with less of North Fremantle % of respondents (city of Fremantle residents) Unsure Support Oppose ▲▼ = notable variance ▲▼ = significant variance Q. The State Government review has called for the City of Fremantle to be merged with other councils. A number of options are being considered. Do you support or oppose the following options? Base: Those who provided a valid response – Residents (n = 1121); Own or manage a business (n = 180) 1 in 4 support Option A: City of Fremantle, Town of East Fremantle, parts of City of Melville and City of Cockburn, less of North Fremantle
14. Only 1 in 4 support this amalgamation option, and the majority oppose it. There is stronger support among residents in Samson, followed by males. Opposition is stronger among residents in South Fremantle, Hilton and 55+ year olds. Merge the City of Fremantle, Town of East Fremantle and City of Melville % of respondents (city of Fremantle residents) Unsure Support Oppose ▲▼ = notable variance ▲▼ = significant variance Q. The State Government review has called for the City of Fremantle to be merged with other councils. A number of options are being considered. Do you support or oppose the following options? Base: Those who provided a valid response – Residents (n = 1098); Own or manage a business (n = 171) 1 in 4 support Option B: City of Fremantle, Town of East Fremantle and City of Melville
15. 2 in 5 support this amalgamation option, however about half oppose it. There is stronger support among 18-34 year olds. Opposition is stronger among older residents and residents in Samson. Merge the City of Fremantle, Town of East Fremantle, parts of the City of Melville and City of Cockburn % of respondents (city of Fremantle residents) Unsure Support Oppose ▲▼ ▲▼ = significant variance = notable variance Q. The State Government review has called for the City of Fremantle to be merged with other councils. A number of options are being considered. Do you support or oppose the following options? Base: Those who provided a valid response – Residents (n = 1093); Own or manage a business (n = 171) 2 in 5 support Option C: City of Fremantle, Town of East Fremantle, parts of City of Melville and City of Cockburn
16. This is the most supported amalgamation option. There is strongest support among younger adults, followed by females, residents in Fremantle, Samson, South Fremantle and White Gum Valley. Opposition is stronger among males, seniors, residents in Hilton and businesses. Merge the City of Fremantle and Town of East Fremantle % of respondents (city of Fremantle residents) Unsure Oppose Support ▲▼ ▲▼ = significant variance = notable variance Q. The State Government review has called for the City of Fremantle to be merged with other councils. A number of options are being considered. Do you support or oppose the following options? Base: Those who provided a valid response – Residents (n = 1103); Own or manage a business (n = 171) 3 in 5 support Option D: City of Fremantle and Town of East Fremantle
17. Change process
18. If the City of Fremantle is to have its boundaries changed or to be merged with other local governments, which of the following best describes how you believe the process should occur? % respondents D A C B Q. If the City of Fremantle is to have its boundaries changed or to be merged with other local governments, which of the following best describes how you believe the process should occur? Please select one response only from the options provided. Base: Residents who provided a valid response (n = 1190) More than half of residents want to vote on possible reform
19. ▲▼ = notable variance ▲▼ = significant variance Q. If the City of Fremantle is to have its boundaries changed or to be merged with other local governments, which of the following best describes how you believe the process should occur? Please select one response only from the options provided. Base: Those who provided a valid response – Residents (n = 1190); Own or manage a business (n = 189) Preferred change process Across the community
20. Most residents who would prefer another change process suggest a combined approach, for example: “A combination of all of the above. It would be unwise to ignore the advice of 1 (State Government); 2 (City of Fremantle) and 3 (residents and ratepayers) should be involved in the decision making process plus that of potentially affected councils & communities.” “Combination of ALL three with ratepayers having greatest voting power.” “Combined approach which doesn't involve vested interests, e.g. Real estate values, but addressing proper functioning of region.” “Government should implement in its judgement after considering the MLGRP advice and a survey of residents and ratepayers (or public consultation process).” “Local government reform and mergers should only occur with the formal consent by vote of a majority of residents and ratepayers of Fremantle and any other local authority affected. The results should be given equal weight for each locality so that bigger Councils don't outweigh smaller ones by population size.” “State Government decide - but after further and more realistic discussion with Local Government.” “Public meetings and ALL of the above decision pathways, please. Please do not proceed with a massive scaled amalgamation - it would render 'Local Government' more of a farce than it already is. Don't exacerbate citizens' poverty of power.” “Responses 2 (City of Fremantle) and 3 (residents and ratepayers) should not be separated. I suggest 'by another process' to read Local Government reform and mergers should only occur after the formal consent of residents and ratepayers has been determined by vote, which would then better inform the Council of the City of Fremantle in their resolution discussions.” Possible merger and boundary change processes Suggestions among residents who feel another process is required Q. If the City of Fremantle is to have its boundaries changed or to be merged with other local governments, which of the following best describes how you believe the process should occur? Please select one response only from the options provided. Base: Residents who feel ‘another process’ is required to implement a merger and change boundaries
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