PAD320
Local Govt Administration
CHAPTER 9
Current Issues in Local
Government
© Fairuz Hidayat Merican, 2017
L • Identify the current issues in local
E government
S L01
S
O
NO • Explain the current issues in local
ULO2 government
T
C
O
M • Suggest ways to resolve the
ELO3 issues/improve local government
S
Contents:
9.1 Good Governance
9.2 Urbanization
9.3 Local Agenda 21 (LA21)
9.4 Healthy & Safe Cities
9.5 Other Issues
9.1 – Good Governance
Definitions
How public institutions conduct public
affairs & manage public resources in
order to guarantee the realization of
human rights.
Definitions
Competent management of a
country’s resources & affairs in a
manner that is open, transparent,
accountable, equitable & responsive
to people’s needs
Levels & Context of Good Governance
Three levels: Four context:
1. Global 1. International
2. National 2. Corporate
3. Local 3. National
4. Local
Principles of Good Governance
1. Participation
Citizen involvement in making service delivery &
management decisions (Langton, 1978);
The act of taking part in the formulation,
implementation and evaluation of policies by interest
groups through formal institutions (Anderson, 1990);
2. Rule of Law
Requires fair legal framework;
Enforced impartially;
Requires full protection of human rights;
Also requires an independent judiciary & impartial
police force.
3. Transparency
Process of decision making & enforcement follow
rules & regulations);
Info is freely available & directly accessible to those
affected by the decisions & enforcement;
Enough info & provided in easily understandable
forms & media.
4. Responsiveness
Requires institutions & processes try to serve all
stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe.
5. Consensus Oriented
Requires mediation of different interests in society;
Reach a broad consensus in society on what is in the
best interest of the whole community & how this can
be achieved;
Requires broad & long term perspective on what is
needed for sustainable human development & how to
achieve it.
6. Equity & Inclusiveness
Ensure that all members of society feel that they have
a stake in their community;
Requires all groups, especially the vulnerable, to
have opportunities to improve or maintain their well
being.
7. Effectiveness & Efficiency
Processes & institutions produce results that meet
the needs of society;
Make the best use of resource;
Also involves the sustainable use of natural
resources & the protection of the environment.
8. Accountability
All institutions (govt, private & civil society) must be
accountable to the public & their institutional
stakeholders;
In general: accountable to those affected by
the decisions or actions;
Requires transparency & rule of law.
9.2 – Urbanization
Definitions
The population shift from rural to urban areas, the
increase in the proportion of people living in
urban areas, and the ways in which each society
adapts to the change.
Definitions
The shift from a rural to an urban society &
involves an increase in the number of people in
urban areas during a particular year.
Definitions
Movement of people from rural to urban areas with
population growth equating to urban migration.
Factors influencing urbanization
Rural push factors:
• Poverty;
• Ltd job opportunities;
• Ltd education opportunities;
• Fewer medical facilities;
• Agricultural technology;
• Development of transportation.
Factors influencing urbanization
Urban pull factors:
• Improve standard of living;
• Job opportunities;
• Education opportunities;
• Better medical facilities;
• Access to services;
• Adventure & excitement.
Challenges of Urbanization:
1 A need for the provision of more services in urban
areas;
2 Health problems can arise;
3 A need for proper urban transport planning &
traffic management;
4 Problem of illegal squatters due to increase in
population in urban areas & lack of housing;
Challenges of Urbanization (MHLG):
1 Urban poverty;
2 Relevance of function;
3 Pollution of environment;
4 Explosion of information system development;
5 Human resource development;
Challenges of Urbanization (MHLG):
6 Expectation of tax payers;
7 Changes in working culture;
8 Generating financial sources;
9 Corporate leadership.
9.3 – Local Agenda 21
(LA21)
One of the outcomes of the United Nations
Conference on Environment &
Development;
3 – 14 June 1992;
Rio de Janerio, Brazil;
Section 3, Chapter 28: Local Authorities’ Initiatives
in Support of Agenda 21;
Achieve sustainable development through
cooperation btwn LA, communities & private sector.
Local Agenda 21 Planning Process
1 Balance economic, community, & environmental
interests & considerations into projects,
processes, & strategies;
2 Fully engage local stakeholders & groups to get a
range of views & interests;
3 Create mechanisms & strategies that can be
maintained over the long term to address various
issues in an in-depth and sustained manner.
Local Agenda 21 Benefits:
1 Co-operation between LA, community & private
sector is enhanced for mutual benefits;
2 Local authorities can promote the good
governance concept;
3 Create a convenient living environment through
clean, safe & harmonic surrounding;
Local Agenda 21 Benefits:
4 Sustainable development issues at local stage
can be studied & tackled together;
5 Opportunity for community & private sector to join
together in the development process.
LA21 Programme in Miri City Council
One of four LA chosen for the Local Agenda 21
Pilot Project Malaysia in 1999;
Feb 2000 – Feb 2002 based on five elements:
• Formation of partnership
• Community-based issue analysis
• Action plan
• Implementation & monitoring
• Evaluation & feedback
LA21 Programme in Miri City Council
Formation of partnership:
• MBM formed partnerships with NGOs,
CBOs & the private sector.
LA21 Programme in Miri City Council
Community-based issue analysis:
• 58 issues voiced out by the Miri community.
• 5 key issues selected:
1) Improve waste management system;
2) Better drainage network;
3) Pollution of Miri River & public places;
4) Rising crime & declining sense of public safety;
5) Improved quality of road network & conditions
• Narrowed down to 3 issues.
LA21 Programme in Miri City Council
Action plan:
• Developed by working groups.
Implementation & monitoring:
• Approval by higher authority & implementation by
working group.
Evaluation & feedback:
• By the relevant actors involved in the programme.
9.4 – Healthy & Safe Cities
What is a Healthy City?
Constantly creating & improving those physical social
environments & expanding community resources
which enable people to mutually support each other
in performing all the functions of life & in developing
their maximum potential ( Hancock & Duhl, 1988 )
WHO Healthy Cities Project:
Long-term, comprehensive, community-based
development project;
Places health on the agenda of cities around the
world;
Addresses the broad range of factors that influence
the health & quality of life in cities;
Builds a constituency of support for public health at
the local level.
Characteristics of a Healthy City:
Commitment to health
Political decision-making
Intersectoral action
Community participation
Innovation
Healthy public policy
Safety Cities
MHLG have put in place “Safe City Guidelines”
for all Local Authorities.
Four Areas of Safety Cities
Cities free from destruction to properties & lives,
like crime, theft & robbery;
Cities free from destruction and vandalism;
Cities free from social and moral problems;
Cities free from accidents inside and outside of
building.
Crime Preventive Measures
23 crime preventive measures have been
introduced for local councils to implement;
Grouped into 3 strategies:
1st Strategy: crime prevention measures through
planning and design of physical environment like
environmental design, GIS – based crime mapping
and review of housing layout guidelines
2nd Strategy: target hardening like building police
post, installation of CCTV, cleaning crime prone
areas and taking other physical crime preventive
measures
3rd Strategy: crime preventative measures through
social/community activities and public awareness
and education