Tailoring Data Governance for Local Councils: Sedha’s Triangle Advantage

Summary

Local councils are increasingly reliant on data to deliver quality community services, optimise resources, and comply with evolving regulations. For CIOs and IT leaders, implementing a Data Governance Framework designed specifically for council operations is essential to building trust, reducing risks, and enabling data-driven decision-making. This article introduces Sedha’s Triangle for Data Governance, linking it to the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Essential Eight strategies to help councils create robust, sustainable governance models. 

Key Findings 

1. Generic data governance models fail to address the unique legislative, operational, and community service needs of local councils. 

2. Sedha’s Triangle is centred on Data Entities Catalogue, Business Unit Reporting, and Data Handling Guidelines. It provides a structured, council-specific approach to governance. 

3. Poorly defined governance increases compliance risks, particularly around privacy, data retention, and secure handling of personally identifiable information (PII). 

4. Integrating governance with the Essential Eight cybersecurity strategies strengthens operational resilience and public trust in council services. 

Recommendations 

1. Build and implement a Data Governance Framework aligned with each council’s specific legislative obligations, workflows, and service delivery priorities. 

2. Form a cross-functional Data Governance Council to oversee Sedha’s Triangle dimensions and ensure alignment with cybersecurity controls. 

3. Deploy governance-enabling technology, such as a responsive data engine, to automate validation, access control, and compliance monitoring. 

4. Invest in cultural change by embedding governance principles into everyday workflows through training, communication, and clear accountability structures. 

Analysis 

Context and Problem 

Local councils manage vast and varied datasets from rates and property records to infrastructure asset registers, planning approvals, environmental monitoring, and community service statistics. With the shift to digital service delivery, the stakes for data privacy, cyber resilience, and regulatory compliance have never been higher. 

However, many councils still operate with fragmented systems, ad hoc policies, and inconsistent practices. This fragmentation leads to duplication, data inaccuracies, and increased exposure to cyber threats. A one-off compliance exercise is not enough; councils need an enduring governance model that is adaptable, practical, and embedded into operations. 

Sedha’s Triangle for Data Governance offers a unique model balancing clarity in data definitions, alignment in usage, and discipline in handling, while integrating with essential cybersecurity practices to ensure both integrity and protection. 

Finding 1: One-size-fits-all frameworks overlook council realities 

Off-the-shelf governance models rarely work in local government because they fail to reflect the operational diversity of councils. For example: 

• Small rural councils may have lean IT resources but vast physical assets to manage. 

• Large metropolitan councils may have complex community programs and interdependent systems that require highly structured governance. 

Without tailoring, frameworks either overburden small councils or under-serve larger ones. 

Recommendation link: Councils should design governance models that align with their size, service portfolio, IT maturity, and community expectations. Tailoring ensures the framework is both achievable and impactful. 

Finding 2: Sedha’s Triangle dimensions provide a complete governance view 

Sedha’s Triangle focuses on three interdependent pillars: 

• Data Entities Catalogue – A definitive register of all data assets, including classification, ownership, storage location, and applicable retention requirements. 

• Business Unit Reporting – A consistent approach to reporting across departments, ensuring data accuracy and comparability for dashboards, performance monitoring, and council decision-making. 

• Data Handling Guidelines – Practical rules for creating, storing, accessing, sharing, and archiving data, covering security controls and compliance obligations. 

The strength of the model lies in its interconnectedness: the catalogue ensures awareness of what data exists, reporting ensures the data is used effectively, and handling guidelines ensure it is protected and compliant. 

Recommendation link: Councils should establish a Data Governance Body, a cross-departmental group responsible for maintaining the Data Entities Catalogue, setting and enforcing Data Handling Guidelines, and overseeing reporting practices. 

Finding 3: Weak governance amplifies compliance and privacy risks 

Councils are bound by multiple legislative frameworks, from the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) to state-based public records acts. Poor data governance leads to: 

• Inconsistent retention and disposal practices, risking non-compliance. 

• Unclear ownership, causing delays in responding to FOI or privacy requests. 

• Higher likelihood of unauthorised data access or disclosure. 

With the added complexity of GDPR obligations for any EU-related interactions and growing scrutiny from citizens, governance failures carry significant reputational and legal risks. 

Recommendation link: Implement a responsive data engine, a system capable of automating validation, logging access, enforcing retention rules, and alerting administrators to policy breaches. This directly supports several Essential Eight controls, including Application Control, Patch Management, and Regular Backups. 

Finding 4: Cybersecurity and governance are inseparable 

In recent years, cyber incidents affecting councils have ranged from ransomware encrypting service delivery systems to phishing attacks targeting finance teams. Without strong governance, these incidents are harder to detect, respond to, and recover from. 

The Essential Eight cybersecurity strategies from the Australian Cyber Security Centre provide a practical baseline. When combined with Sedha’s Triangle, they ensure both policy and technical controls are in place. For example: 

• Application Whitelisting & Patch Applications – enforced through Data Handling Guidelines. 

• Restrict Administrative Privileges & Multi-factor Authentication – implemented through access governance tied to the Data Entities Catalogue. 

• Regular Backups & Incident Response Planning – built into governance review and business continuity processes. 

Recommendation link: Governance documents should explicitly reference how each Essential Eight measure is supported operationally, creating a single source of truth for both compliance and security posture. 

Conclusion 

Data governance for local councils is not a static compliance obligation, it is a living framework that must evolve alongside community needs, regulatory requirements, and technology shifts. Sedha’s Triangle for Data Governance provides a clear, adaptable structure that councils can customise to their context, ensuring data is accurate, trusted, and secure. 

When linked with the Essential Eight cybersecurity strategies, governance transforms from a policy exercise into a resilience strategy protecting community trust, enabling data-driven decision-making, and safeguarding against growing cyber threats. CIOs and IT leaders who invest in this integrated approach will position their councils to deliver better services, manage risks effectively, and adapt confidently to future challenges. 

About Sedha Consulting

Sedha Consulting partners with public sector organisations, including local councils, to design and implement Data Governance Frameworks that balance compliance, operational efficiency, and innovation. Using Sedha’s Triangle for Data Governance, we help clients catalogue their data assets, unify reporting practices, and embed secure handling procedures while integrating the Essential Eight to strengthen cyber resilience. Whether your council is just starting on its governance journey or refining a mature model, Sedha delivers the expertise, tools, and facilitation needed to embed governance as a driver of trust and performance.

Sedha Consulting