18-41 – Misuse of Council Resources – March 2019 State Election
In the lead up to the March 2019 State election, councillors, council staff and other council officials need to be aware of their obligations under the Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW (the Model Code) in relation to the use of council resources.
18-40 – Expanded powers under the Impounding Act 1993 to manage shared bicycles
Councils and other impounding authorities now have expanded powers to manage shared bicycles that cause obstructions, pose safety risks or are left unused in one place for too long based on clear, risk-based time limits.
18-39 – Debt Management and Hardship Guidelines
The Office of Local Government has issued new Guidelines to ensure best practice debt management and hardship practices in all NSW councils.
18-38 – 2018-19 draft Code of Accounting Practice and Financial Reporting (Update No. 27)
The draft 2018-19 Code of Accounting Practice and Financial Reporting has been released for comment.
18-36 – Promoting Water Safety during the 2018-19 Swimming Season
Councils play a crucial role in promoting water safety and in minimising risks associated with aquatic locations under their care and control. Councils are encouraged to promote water safety awareness at key times during the swimming season to help reduce drowning risks in backyard swimming pools, public pools, beaches and other public waterways.
18-37 – Audit Office – Local Government Fraud Control Performance Audit
The NSW Audit Office has undertaken a sector-wide performance audit of fraud controls in councils. Councils’ fraud controls were assessed against the Audit Office’s Fraud Control Improvement Kit.The resulting report, Fraud controls in local councils, found that there is significant variation between councils in the strength of their fraud control systems and that many councils have substantial room for improvement.
18-35 – The new Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Councils
The new Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Councils in NSW (the Model Meeting Code) has been finalised and will soon be prescribed by the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005.
18-34 – Reminder of 1 December 2018 deadline for councils to finalise a refund sharing agreement to share in Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) kerbside revenue
Councils must notify the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) that they have reached a refund sharing agreement with their Material Recovery Facility (MRF) operator before 1 December 2018 to enable the MRF to continue to claim refunds for eligible containers and to enable councils to receive a share of CDS revenue from their kerbside recycling stream.
18-33 – OLG Financial Reporting Workshops 2018-19
The Office of Local Government (OLG) is conducting a series of workshops commencing November 2018 and concluding May 2019 on impending Accounting Standards and the auditing of financial statements. A range of council revenue and lease contracts will be reviewed to enable councils to gain an understanding of the issues to consider in determining the impact of the new standards.
18-32 – Councils are invited to visit OLG’s trade exhibition display booth at the LGNSW Conference 21-23 October, Albury
Mayors, councillors and general managers are encouraged to visit the OLG trade exhibition display (stalls 32 & 33), to speak with staff or ask any questions they may have about OLG programs and initiatives. Information will be available on a range of topics such as joint organisations, the model code of conduct, model code of meeting practice, biodiversity and skills development.