The NSW Government has asked the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to investigate and report on the financial model for councils in NSW.

The NSW Government has asked the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to investigate and report on the financial model for councils in NSW. The draft Terms of Reference sets out the scope for the review and asks IPART to review and make recommendations on the following matters:

• the visibility of councillors and the community over the financial and operational performance of their councils
• whether current budget and financial processes used by councils are delivering value-for-money for ratepayers and residents
• whether the current funding model will sustainably support the needs of communities
• whether councils (both councillors and staff) have the financial capacity and capability to meet current and future needs of communities
• how better planning and reporting systems can improve long term budget performance, transparency and accountability to the community
• any other matters IPART considers relevant.

We are seeking your feedback on the draft Terms of Reference via our Have Your Say survey and submissions.

Tell us what you think

IPART welcomes feedback on the draft Terms of Reference from the community, ratepayers, councils and councillors.

You can respond until 15 March 2024 by:

• doing the survey, and/or
• making a submission.

We may recommend changes to the Terms of Reference for the review as a result of feedback we receive.

There will be further opportunities this year to participate in the review. At this stage we are only seeking feedback on the draft Terms of Reference.

We may publish information collected through the survey, including free text responses in line with IPART’s Submissions Policy. We will not publish information that identifies, or could be used to identify, individuals or organisations.

Submissions have now closed. Please visit IPART’s websiteIPART’s websiteIPART’s website(External link) for updates.