Meteor, I have long advocated for the dissolution of councils. An administrator should manage the day to day necessary activities eg roads, rates and rubbish, parks and gardens etc etc. The state government should establish a charter of responsibilities and a set of rules within which the council operates. This should include the removal of politically charged donations and social interventions. Funding for council should be overseen by the local Federal Member(s) and State Member(s) who could lobby both levels of government for funding if required. Otherwise all social endeavours should be provided by the state governments.
At the moment, councils are a magnet for self interest groups, environmental nuts and lefty loonies.
In fact if you look at the Greens, their MO is to rule Australia through the council system!
