Influenced by the global phenomenon of the third way paradigm, the reform of the New Zealand Local Government Act 2002 (LGA 2002) marked significant changes for local authorities. Under this Act, local authorities were required to consult with their communities to develop long term plans identifying social, economic, environmental and cultural outcomes and progress indicators within a sustainable development framework. Since 2002, local authorities have developed at least one long term plan with a full consultation process. This thesis explored the interpretation of cultural wellbeing based on ethnicity and cultural identity, identifying factors that may influence indicator development using Hamilton City Council’s Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) 2006 as a case study. The qualitative and secondary quantitative research has shown tensions exist, between the application of a western definition of cultural wellbeing and the cultural worldview within a governance model. Subsequent findings relate to the dearth of literature exploring the relationship between principles of citizenship, cultural diversity and cultural wellbeing within a New Zealand setting. Through the reflexive research process it has been identified that any further work in this area draws on community participatory research design and indigenous methodology. Cultural wellbeing is a live process moving beyond the manifestation of tradition and custom that traditionally has been associated with indicator development. The generic nature of cultural wellbeing indicators could be related to the need for more research into the epistemology of culture as a knowledge tradition in itself and how it is incorporated into development of wellbeing measures and indicators. By drawing on central, local and regional monitoring programmes, local authorities, such as Hamilton City Council have demonstrated an evolution in the type of cultural wellbeing indicators and outcomes used; however the full intent of broadening the role of local government to include cultural wellbeing is still to be realised.

Since the declaration of Taiwan Local Self-Government Guidelines, the era of local self-government has launched. Due to the various level of dependence on development among counties and cities in the past, the differences among regions deepened. Besides, under the influences of the political centralization, the urbanization caused by economic development, and the preference on directly governed city region in the term of financial distribution, the distinctive features of the local government have not been fully dominated. Therefore, though the system of local self-government has been implemented for 50 years, the result turns out insignificant under the limitations of laws. In addition, since the Local Government Act was promulgated in 1999, it is considered the important fundamental guideline to fulfill the conclusions of National Development Conference. With the implementation of Local Government Act the county and municipal governments are supposed to be equipped with self-governance laws in the operations of the divisions of personnel, financial affairs, and organizational management, so that they will have abundant resources to exert their functions as self-governments. But six years has passed by since the implementation of Local Government Act, how much does the blueprint of cross-century organization modification law exert its functions ? And what assistance is offered to contribute to the whole development of counties and cities? The answer lies in the voice of self-governments of counties and cities. Based on the above-mentioned grounds, this study has been conducted. This study aims in the discussion of the authorization changes brought by the implementation of Local Government Act. This study plans to set up the implementation as the experimental group, while the situation prior to the implementation as the comparative group. Through the study, it is to be seen whether the implementation of Local Government Act meets the original goal. Tainan City is taken for the example in this case study. Literature review has been conducted in the analysis of the four vital indicators, including the divisions of personnel, organization, financial affairs, and legislature. The impact made on these four divisions are to be discussed. Besides, detailed interview is also the research method. That is, seven municipal councilors and four first-class supervisors are interviewed. Their responses are adopted and analyzed to realize their attitudes toward the reform. How do they feel about the reform? Are there any defects within the reform? Through the experimental survey, the correctness of the above literature review can be examined, and modest modification or reform can be presented properly. On the basis of literature review and the results of conducted interviews, whether the original goals are fulfilled can be proved. Before the implementation of Local Government Act, self-governments have no rights over the matters of personnel, organization, finance and legislature. After the implementation, self-governments turn to have more rights over the matters of personnel, organization, and legislature except over the matters of finance. In conclusion, to enhance self-governance law, fully authorization over financial matters should be offered so that the prosperous future is expected and we will build a better and more vigorous government.

The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) gave councils a mandate and an obligation to promote sustainability. Along with this it also introduced an expectation that the environment will be better managed than previously. Evidence shows that the environment is continuing to be degraded. This is especially evident in the coastal environment where in the early 2000s there has been unprecedented development pressure. The addition of the Local Government Act in 2002 (LGA) has strengthened councils’ sustainability mandate by stipulating a sustainable development approach and supporting processes and principles. Because the RMA and LGA have a similar sustainability directive there has been a push to utilise the compatible strengths that the LGA offers to enhance the outcomes achieved through RMA decisions, therefore, integrating and aligning the LGA and RMA. This research used case studies, including interviews, to examine how councils use their RMA and LGA mandates in coastal development decisions. The research found that currently there is little integration of the LGA’s requirements and sustainability direction in RMA coastal subdivision decisions. The case study analysis showed that using the principles and processes in the LGA and also a council’s policies, strategies, and plans other than RMA documents would provide up to date policy direction and contextual information that would be useful for RMA decisions and could provide a more sustainable outcome if used. The case studies identified a significant number of barriers to achieving sustainability through the RMA, including that much of the policy direction in RMA planning documents is not considered in deliberations. A number of these barriers are also likely to reduce attempts to integrate and align the LGA and RMA, unless they are addressed.

The study was undertaken to determine the influence of the policy of separate development on the establishment, development and disestablishment of the Geluksdal Management Committee. The policy of separate development as implemented by the previous National Party Government led to the establishment of the Geluksdal Management Committee. Acts adopted by Parliament provided the statutory environment for the establishment of the Geluksdal township and the development of the Geluksdal Management Committee. The adoption of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act 209 of 1993) and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act 200 of 1993) led to the disestablishment of the Geluksdal Management Committee. In terms of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act 209 of 1993) the Transitional Local Council of Brakpan, that includes the Geluksdal Management Committee, was promulgated. / Die studie is onderneem om die invloed van die beleid van afsonderlike ontwikkeling op die ontstaan, ontwikkeling en ontbinding van die Geluksdal Bestuurskomitee te bepaal. Die beleid van afsonderlike ontwikkeling soos toegepas deur die destydse Nasionale Party Regering het gelei tot die ontstaan van die Geluksdal Bestuurskomitee. Parlementere wetgewing het die statutere omgewing verleen waarbinne die dorp Geluksdal gestig en die Geluksdal Bestuurskomitee ontwikkel het. Die aanvaarding van die Oorgangswet op Plaaslike Regering, 1993 (Wet 209 van 1993) en die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika, 1993 (Wet 200 van 1993) het gelei tot die ontbinding van die Geluksdal Bestuurskomitee. In terme van eersgenoemde Wet is die Oorgangsraad van Brakpan wat die Geluksdal Bestuurskomitee insluit, gepromulgeer. / Public Administration / M.A. (Pulic Administration)

The aim of the study was to analyze the effect brought about by the promulgation of the British Local Government Act of 1988 on the maintenance of parks and recreational services. The Act made it compulsory to local authorities to expose the maintenance of parks and recreational services to a tendering process, commonly known as compulsory competitive tendering. The implementation of compulsory competitive tendering had to be done between the promulgation of the Act in 1988, and 1994. With regard to this period, a perception existed that the standard of the administration of the maintenance of parks and recreational services declined. The research was done to determine if the implementation of compulsory competitive tendering on the maintenance of parks and recreational services could have resulted in a decline in the standard of the administration of the services, and how it could have happened. It was determined that the motive of the British Government at the time of implementation of the compulsory competitive tendering was primarily to save money. The result of the implementation of compulsory competitive legislation on the maintenance of parks and recreational services were amongst other things: - low morale of staff who were pressured to change - culture changes necessary to comply to compulsory competitive organisational structures - legislation that influenced the lives of traditional local authority employees drastically, and - the development of a new approach to financial management to comply to the government's expectations of saving money. / Public Administration / M. A. (Public Administration)

The study was undertaken to determine the influence of the policy of separate development on the establishment, development and disestablishment of the Geluksdal Management Committee. The policy of separate development as implemented by the previous National Party Government led to the establishment of the Geluksdal Management Committee. Acts adopted by Parliament provided the statutory environment for the establishment of the Geluksdal township and the development of the Geluksdal Management Committee. The adoption of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act 209 of 1993) and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act 200 of 1993) led to the disestablishment of the Geluksdal Management Committee. In terms of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act 209 of 1993) the Transitional Local Council of Brakpan, that includes the Geluksdal Management Committee, was promulgated. / Die studie is onderneem om die invloed van die beleid van afsonderlike ontwikkeling op die ontstaan, ontwikkeling en ontbinding van die Geluksdal Bestuurskomitee te bepaal. Die beleid van afsonderlike ontwikkeling soos toegepas deur die destydse Nasionale Party Regering het gelei tot die ontstaan van die Geluksdal Bestuurskomitee. Parlementere wetgewing het die statutere omgewing verleen waarbinne die dorp Geluksdal gestig en die Geluksdal Bestuurskomitee ontwikkel het. Die aanvaarding van die Oorgangswet op Plaaslike Regering, 1993 (Wet 209 van 1993) en die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika, 1993 (Wet 200 van 1993) het gelei tot die ontbinding van die Geluksdal Bestuurskomitee. In terme van eersgenoemde Wet is die Oorgangsraad van Brakpan wat die Geluksdal Bestuurskomitee insluit, gepromulgeer. / Public Administration and Management / M.A. (Pulic Administration)

The aim of the study was to analyze the effect brought about by the promulgation of the British Local Government Act of 1988 on the maintenance of parks and recreational services. The Act made it compulsory to local authorities to expose the maintenance of parks and recreational services to a tendering process, commonly known as compulsory competitive tendering. The implementation of compulsory competitive tendering had to be done between the promulgation of the Act in 1988, and 1994. With regard to this period, a perception existed that the standard of the administration of the maintenance of parks and recreational services declined. The research was done to determine if the implementation of compulsory competitive tendering on the maintenance of parks and recreational services could have resulted in a decline in the standard of the administration of the services, and how it could have happened. It was determined that the motive of the British Government at the time of implementation of the compulsory competitive tendering was primarily to save money. The result of the implementation of compulsory competitive legislation on the maintenance of parks and recreational services were amongst other things: - low morale of staff who were pressured to change - culture changes necessary to comply to compulsory competitive organisational structures - legislation that influenced the lives of traditional local authority employees drastically, and - the development of a new approach to financial management to comply to the government's expectations of saving money. / Public Administration and Management / M. A. (Public Administration)

The New Zealand Government is striving to improve the way it measures progress and plans for change in an integrated ‘whole of government’ manner. The Local Government Act 2002 serves to strengthen participatory democracy and community governance. Under the Act, local authorities are charged with monitoring, and, not less than once every three years, reporting on the progress made by the community in achieving its outcomes for the district or region. These outcomes belong to the community and encompass what the community considers important to progress towards. Indicators that measure economic, social, environmental, cultural and democratic progress at local level are a primary tool that local authorities use to measure the progress towards their desired outcomes. To successfully track progress, it is important that indicators are technically sound and reflect the values of the entire community. The monitoring of indicators is expected to be ongoing and participatory. The New Zealand Government has leant heavily towards a decentralised locally driven approach to community indicators. The purpose of this study was to explore the manner in which different local authorities have undertaken community indicator: development, monitoring and reporting. This was undertaken through a two pronged approach: 1). A scoping exercise assessing the contents of eighteen local authority LTCCPs, 2). In-depth case studies of community indicator programmes of five of the eighteen local authorities. It was found that the approaches used to develop, monitor and report community indicators ranged abruptly across local authorities. Some councils appear to have relatively robust and meaningful indicator processes in place, which are both technically sound and have gained representative community input. In contrast, other councils hold a compliance mentality towards community indicators and have done the bare minimum when designing their indicator frameworks. These frameworks have tended to be council dominated with few opportunities for community involvement. In addition to this, local authorities poorly communicated indicators through their LTCCPs. The inadequate information detailing indicators processes is unlikely to both educate and promote community buy-in. Councils must place greater emphasis on the engagement of the entire community including other governmental departments, to ensure that indicators are relevant and meaningful for all. Consistency across local authority indicator frameworks will also help to ensure that all local authorities are working in an integrated manner towards the common goal of improving community well-being. Initiatives such as the Linked indicators Project and the Quality of Life Project are possible methods of ensuring consistent indicator frameworks. Finally, councils must provide greater information about community indicators within their LTCCPs.

<p>För att komma till rätta med kommunernas och landstingens mångåriga underskott i början av 1990-talet, infördes god ekonomisk hushållning år 1992 för att skapa balans mellan inkomster och utgifter. Då det inte finns någon tydlig definition på god ekonomisk hushållning infördes balanskravet år 1998 som ett komplement. Balanskravet innebär att intäkterna ska vara större än kostnaderna, det vill säga att ekonomin ska vara i balans. Grundtanken och syftet med införandet av balanskravet är att varje generation ska bära ansvar för de kostnader som den generationen beslutar om och konsumerar samt skapa en långsiktig stabil utveckling av ekonomin. Om en kommun inte får ekonomin i balans och redovisar underskott ska det negativa resultatet enligt 8kap 5a§ Kommunal Lagen kompenseras inom tre år om det inte föreligger synnerliga skäl och kan därmed frångå en budget i balans. Balanskravet fyller sin funktion men när balanskravet utformades tog inte lagstiftaren hänsyn till kommuner med stark ekonomi utan kravet är främst utformat för kommuner med svag ekonomi, vilket skapat inlåsningseffekter av överskotten från kommuner med stark ekonomi. Kritiken av balanskravets utformning har belysts än mer på grund av lågkonjunkturens effekt, och även gjort regeringen medveten om problemet. Därför finns det intresse att undersöka hur en kommun med stark respektive svag ekonomi hanterar balanskravet.</p><p> </p><p>Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur Västerås kommun och Eskilstuna kommun hanterar balanskravet.</p><p> </p><p>För att analysera och förstå hur de två utvalda kommunerna hanterar balanskravet utifrån deras ekonomiska förutsättningar har den kvalitativa metoden använts för att uppnå en djupare förståelse.  Dessutom har den deskriptiva/induktiva metoden använts för att ta reda på varför de normativa teorierna inte varit framgångsrika i olika sammanhang. För att göra en jämförelse har en enhetlig analysmodell konstruerats för att påvisa kommunernas finansiella styrka.</p><p> </p><p>Resultatet av undersökningen visar att Västerås kommun och Eskilstuna kommun har olika förhållningssätt till hur de hanterar balanskravet. Slutsatsen visar att balanskravet inte är utformat och anpassat för att hantera konjunktursvängningar. Även att kommuner med stark ekonomi hämmas av inlåsningseffekten, detta har gjort att kommunerna själva skapat egna lösningar som fyller olika funktioner inom respektive kommun. Dessa lösningar går inte att finna i förarbetena till regelverket, men grundtanken i lösningarna har varit densamma; att underlätta hanteringen av konjunktursvängningar och komma runt inlåsningseffekterna.</p> / <p>To cope with the municipalities and county councils perennial deficits in the early 1990s, the concept of good financial management was inserted in 1992 to create a balance between income and expenditure. When there is no existing clear definition of the concept good financial management, introduced as a complement a specific demand of balance in 1998. The demand of balance means that revenue shall be larger than the costs, that are the economy shall be in balance. The basic idea and intent with insertion of demand of balance is that each generation in the municipalities, shall take responsibility for the cost they decides whether and consume, and create a long-term stable development of economy. If a municipalities not achieve to get the economy in balance and declare a deficit, shall the negative outcome according 8kap 5a§ Local Government Act compensated within three years unless there is no existing especial reasons, and can therefore depart from a budget in balance. The demand of balance satisfies its own intent and basic idea, but when the demand of balance was explicate did not the lawmaker make allowances to municipalities with a strong financial position. The demand of balance is specific explicated for municipalities with a weak financial position, which created the lock-in effects of the surpluses for municipalities with a strong financial position. Criticism of the demand of balance has been elucidated more because of the impact of the recession effect, and also made the Government aware about the problem. There is therefore of interest to investigate how a municipality with a strong respective a weak financial position manage the demand of balance.</p><p> </p><p>The purpose of the study is to investigate how Västerås municipality and Eskilstuna municipality manages the demand of balance.</p><p> </p><p>To analyze and understand how the two selected municipalities manage demand of balance based on their economic prerequisites have the qualitative methodology been applied to achieve a deeper understanding.  In addition, the descriptive/inductive method used to determine why the normative theories have not been successful in different contexts. To make a comparison, a unified analytical model has been designed to demonstrate the financial strength of the municipalities.</p><p> </p><p>The results of the study show that Västerås municipality and Eskilstuna municipality has different approaches to how they manage the demand of balance. The conclusion indicates that the demand of balance is not explicated and adapted to handle cyclical fluctuations. Although the municipality with a strong economy is hampered by the lock-in effect, this has meant that the municipalities created their own solutions that serve different functions in each municipality. These solutions cannot be found in the legislative history of the regulatory framework, but the basic idea of the solutions has been the same; to facilitate the handling of cyclical fluctuations and get around the lock-in effects.</p>

För att komma till rätta med kommunernas och landstingens mångåriga underskott i början av 1990-talet, infördes god ekonomisk hushållning år 1992 för att skapa balans mellan inkomster och utgifter. Då det inte finns någon tydlig definition på god ekonomisk hushållning infördes balanskravet år 1998 som ett komplement. Balanskravet innebär att intäkterna ska vara större än kostnaderna, det vill säga att ekonomin ska vara i balans. Grundtanken och syftet med införandet av balanskravet är att varje generation ska bära ansvar för de kostnader som den generationen beslutar om och konsumerar samt skapa en långsiktig stabil utveckling av ekonomin. Om en kommun inte får ekonomin i balans och redovisar underskott ska det negativa resultatet enligt 8kap 5a§ Kommunal Lagen kompenseras inom tre år om det inte föreligger synnerliga skäl och kan därmed frångå en budget i balans. Balanskravet fyller sin funktion men när balanskravet utformades tog inte lagstiftaren hänsyn till kommuner med stark ekonomi utan kravet är främst utformat för kommuner med svag ekonomi, vilket skapat inlåsningseffekter av överskotten från kommuner med stark ekonomi. Kritiken av balanskravets utformning har belysts än mer på grund av lågkonjunkturens effekt, och även gjort regeringen medveten om problemet. Därför finns det intresse att undersöka hur en kommun med stark respektive svag ekonomi hanterar balanskravet.   Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur Västerås kommun och Eskilstuna kommun hanterar balanskravet.   För att analysera och förstå hur de två utvalda kommunerna hanterar balanskravet utifrån deras ekonomiska förutsättningar har den kvalitativa metoden använts för att uppnå en djupare förståelse.  Dessutom har den deskriptiva/induktiva metoden använts för att ta reda på varför de normativa teorierna inte varit framgångsrika i olika sammanhang. För att göra en jämförelse har en enhetlig analysmodell konstruerats för att påvisa kommunernas finansiella styrka.   Resultatet av undersökningen visar att Västerås kommun och Eskilstuna kommun har olika förhållningssätt till hur de hanterar balanskravet. Slutsatsen visar att balanskravet inte är utformat och anpassat för att hantera konjunktursvängningar. Även att kommuner med stark ekonomi hämmas av inlåsningseffekten, detta har gjort att kommunerna själva skapat egna lösningar som fyller olika funktioner inom respektive kommun. Dessa lösningar går inte att finna i förarbetena till regelverket, men grundtanken i lösningarna har varit densamma; att underlätta hanteringen av konjunktursvängningar och komma runt inlåsningseffekterna. / To cope with the municipalities and county councils perennial deficits in the early 1990s, the concept of good financial management was inserted in 1992 to create a balance between income and expenditure. When there is no existing clear definition of the concept good financial management, introduced as a complement a specific demand of balance in 1998. The demand of balance means that revenue shall be larger than the costs, that are the economy shall be in balance. The basic idea and intent with insertion of demand of balance is that each generation in the municipalities, shall take responsibility for the cost they decides whether and consume, and create a long-term stable development of economy. If a municipalities not achieve to get the economy in balance and declare a deficit, shall the negative outcome according 8kap 5a§ Local Government Act compensated within three years unless there is no existing especial reasons, and can therefore depart from a budget in balance. The demand of balance satisfies its own intent and basic idea, but when the demand of balance was explicate did not the lawmaker make allowances to municipalities with a strong financial position. The demand of balance is specific explicated for municipalities with a weak financial position, which created the lock-in effects of the surpluses for municipalities with a strong financial position. Criticism of the demand of balance has been elucidated more because of the impact of the recession effect, and also made the Government aware about the problem. There is therefore of interest to investigate how a municipality with a strong respective a weak financial position manage the demand of balance.   The purpose of the study is to investigate how Västerås municipality and Eskilstuna municipality manages the demand of balance.   To analyze and understand how the two selected municipalities manage demand of balance based on their economic prerequisites have the qualitative methodology been applied to achieve a deeper understanding.  In addition, the descriptive/inductive method used to determine why the normative theories have not been successful in different contexts. To make a comparison, a unified analytical model has been designed to demonstrate the financial strength of the municipalities.   The results of the study show that Västerås municipality and Eskilstuna municipality has different approaches to how they manage the demand of balance. The conclusion indicates that the demand of balance is not explicated and adapted to handle cyclical fluctuations. Although the municipality with a strong economy is hampered by the lock-in effect, this has meant that the municipalities created their own solutions that serve different functions in each municipality. These solutions cannot be found in the legislative history of the regulatory framework, but the basic idea of the solutions has been the same; to facilitate the handling of cyclical fluctuations and get around the lock-in effects.