The Centre is a cross-faculty centre for research, consultancy and education activities. The Centre currently has more than a dozen members and associates. Administrative and financial oversight is provided by the Director. A three-person Management Committee is responsible for the strategic direction of the Centre, and for ensuring the carriage of individual areas of activity of the Centre. The Centre employs part-time research assistants for specific projects, and welcomes visiting scholars and local government professionals. The present Director is Professor Brian Dollery and Deputy Director is Joel Byrnes. The Management Committee is made up of the Director Professor Brian Dollery, Deputy Director Joel Byrnes and Andrew Johnson.

"To provide an umbrella organisation for activities of the University of New England that are relevant to local government so as to facilitate support, service, education and leadership to all sectors of local government in Australia. This is achieved through four core areas of activities: education, professional development, consultancy and research"