The state government invited the views of councils, regional organisations of councils and others to help inform the successful roll-out of joint organisations from the next local government elections.

The eight-page Port Macquarie-Hastings Council submission said the potential conflict between priorities at a local and regional level was one of the core governance issues to be resolved.

The submission questioned how elected councillors were meant to deal with conflicting priorities when they were elected to represent the people of a particular local government area, not the broader region.

“The one vote per council is potentially setting the JO [joint organisation] up to fail,” the submission said.

“Depending on the makeup of member councils, there could be a real situation where smaller councils ultimately dictate what the priorities will be for larger “regional city” councils.”

The submission said further work was required about the voting model put forward to ensure larger councils, which had been determined by the state government to be of significance to a region, were not impacted negatively by the force of votes of smaller councils on particular regional priorities.

The submission also raised concerns about the lack of a mechanism to hold joint organisations accountable for decisions.

Port Macquarie-Hastings mayor Peter Besseling included his comments in the council’s submission.

His comments related to ownership, accountability, competition, local government strategic direction and a fourth tier of government.

Joint organisations are part of the state government’s Fit for the Future reforms of the local government sector.

Regional joint organisations will provide a forum for councils and the state to work together to deliver regional priorities.

A spokesperson for Local Government Minister Paul Toole said the state government was in the process of finalising the proposed joint organisation boundaries.

The government will soon undertake consultation with relevant councils on the proposed boundaries.