The Future of Local Government and Civic Leadership
Dean Cracknell
Helping people to create positive change. Co-Founder of Town Team Movement, Creator of Placemaking.Education.
What's the vision for the future of our democracy? The Future of Local Government National Summit devised the declaration below in 2017.
Well done to all involved! It aligns perfectly with our Town Team model as the movement spreads around Australia and New Zealand.
"The following summary of the output from the 2017 Future of Local Government National Summit highlights the challenge we all need to respond to at the local level as we transition to a different future:
‘This declaration rests on a belief that the state of the nation and the health of our society depend on community-driven action in the neighbourhood, not just decisions made in parliaments or boardrooms.
Across the world people are concerned about the apparent inability of governments, business and public institutions to address the economic, social and environmental challenges of the 21st Century. Our present ways of thinking and governing are neither coping with the pace of change nor meeting citizens’ expectations. There is an urgent need for a fresh approach and responsive leadership.
In some ways Australia remains the ‘lucky country’ but here too we are struggling with economic upheaval, rising inequality, loss of social cohesion, increased rates of loneliness and mental illness and serious environmental threats, notably climate change. Many Australians are losing faith in our basic democratic institutions and withdrawing from active participation in civic and cultural life. Our reputation as an inclusive, tolerant and compassionate society is under threat.
It’s time to explore a new model of governance, one based on a re-energised civil society that draws on the strength and resourcefulness of people working together in diverse local and regional communities – a localist response."
Senior Analyst at WA Treasury
6 年Great article, Dean. Too long has the planning profession viewed community opposition as a barrier rather than an opportunity. If people are really passionate about their area, it usually means there is something really successful about it that can be leveraged for the future. As planners we should seek to understand how we can keep the successes of an area even when change is needed or naturally occurring.