Governance

LGANT provides councils across the Northern Territory advice on good governance practices. Good governance leads to better decisions, better relationships and better local government, so it’s a priority of LGANT to support its members in this area.

Good governance is about the processes for making and implementing decisions, assisting local government meet its legislative responsibilities and importantly provides an ethical basis for governance.

It has a positive effect on various aspects of local government including consultation policies and practices, meeting procedures, service quality protocols, elected member and officer conduct, role clarification and good working relationships.

The main characteristics of good governance are:

• accountability
• transparency
• legislatively sound
• responsive
• equitable and inclusive
• effective and efficient
• participatory

The benefits of good governance are:

• promotes community confidence
• builds confidence in elected members and council officers
• leads to better decisions
• helps local government meet its legislative responsibilities
• supports ethical decision making.