Principles for Local Government Legislation
Lessons from the Commonwealth Pacific

Across the Pacific local councils take a variety of different forms, ranging from traditional village structures to fullyfledged municipalities. Whatever form local government takes, an appropriate legislative and regulatory framework is essential to ensure that councils can effectively address the needs of their communities.
This study is designed to help Pacific island countries review and strengthen their existing frameworks. It begins by examining legislation and systems across a range of countries and institutional settings, identifying examples of best practice and areas for improvement. It then presents case studies of three very different legislative frameworks: Fiji, Solomon Islands and Samoa. In the conclusion, the findings are consolidated into ten key principles for effective legislation: fit for purpose; democracy and representation; local empowerment; probity; oversight and support; capacity and sustainability; efficiency, effectiveness and equity; community engagement; intergovernment cooperation; clarity and consistency.
This is an authoritative piece of research that will be extremely valuable to local government practitioners in the Pacific and beyond.
This study is designed to help Pacific island countries review and strengthen their existing frameworks. It begins by examining legislation and systems across a range of countries and institutional settings, identifying examples of best practice and areas for improvement. It then presents case studies of three very different legislative frameworks: Fiji, Solomon Islands and Samoa. In the conclusion, the findings are consolidated into ten key principles for effective legislation: fit for purpose; democracy and representation; local empowerment; probity; oversight and support; capacity and sustainability; efficiency, effectiveness and equity; community engagement; intergovernment cooperation; clarity and consistency.
This is an authoritative piece of research that will be extremely valuable to local government practitioners in the Pacific and beyond.
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Case Study: Honiara City Council
Honiara is the capital city of Solomon Islands, a country of many islands spread over 1,450 kms from Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) in the north to Vanuatu in the south, and covering an area of some 29,000 km2. At the 2009 Census, the national population was about 516,000. There are more than 70 different local languages and dialects. GDP per capita is among the lowest in the region.
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Click to download PDF - 87.28KBPDF
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Click to Read online and shareREAD