Diversity  characterises the wide range of activities and services undertaken by local authorities. An entrancing characteristic of local government is the extent of its diversity within its unity. It may paradoxically claim to be heterogeneous in some ways but homogeneous in others.

Difficult social issues usually require a joint and hands-on approach by all levels of government. Local government therefore has an untapped capacity to venture into areas where other levels of government won’t go. A local government preoccupied with business models,competitive internal tendering processes, regulatory compliance, administrative and structural issues still needs to find time to sit down and chat over morning tea with community , business , social and political leaders of different backgrounds and interests.The time taken away from seemingly more pressing matters will be compensated by the rewards of fresh ideas.

The challenges presented by difficult social and sometimes unpleasant issues spark interest in exploring new functions offered or imposed by other levels of government. Local government is called upon to  assume what might otherwise be undesirable or unseemly roles for which it is not readily resourced or equipped. Responding  well to these calls will enhance local government’s capacity to participate in the broader picture.Responding imaginatively, creatively and with lateral thinking in a responsible context will elevate local government’s position and its authority to effectively discharge the responsibilties imposed upon it.

Local government’s strength lies in its diversity .For example, when local authorities describe the characteristics of their area, they identify  many different qualities and features of value and interest. It matters not whether a local authority is large or small, or where it is located. The challenges are as real as the place itself. The  myriad problems of a remote rural council are as real to its few residents as they are to a large population of crowded city dwellers.The range of services provided are more extensive than even those in local government themselves sometimes realise.

For local government to be dealing with issues such as noise in their most basic regulatory context  might seem insignificant .Yet  noise can be a highly significant issue  one way or another in any area, rural or urban. It ranges from dealing with complaints of barking dogs to new concepts of celebrating quietness . Looming very large in the lives of so many, it’s only one  example of the diversity of functions local government has the opportunity of  addressing in its broadest sense.

The same could be said of regulatory obligations placed on local government to deal with domestic pets in the context of their role as companion animals .Experience at the most basic regulatory level qualifies and equips a council to take concepts of the placing care and management of domestic pets to a new horizon.

Community development is an especially promising concept.Kindled initially at the grass roots level and emerging in local government  well over forty years ago, it has yet to come into fulfillment in the manner some of its earlier proponents envisaged.Community development is  capable of enriching  people to an extent limited only by imagination .

Such a  diverse range of  functions - coupled with the elevation of  some of their more  mundane aspects  – call for involvement of  the widest possible cross section of the community. Next →