An Evaluation of Performance Measurement and the Identification of 'At Risk' Municipal Councils in NSW Local Government

Performance monitoring is an important means of establishing accountability in Australian local government. This paper attempts to evaluate the process of performance monitoring in NSW and the method of identifying "at risk" councils. It provides a synoptic description of some salient characteristics of NSW local government by way of institutional background, focusing on council diversity, the classification of local authorities and the financial standing of NSW local government. The paper then examines the process of council performance measurement, the nature of the reporting requirements presently imposed upon councils and the concept of "at risk" councils and their identification in NSW.