16-46 – Development of a Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Councils in NSW
The recent amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act) provide for a model code of meeting practice (model meeting code) to be prescribed by regulation. Work on developing the model meeting code has now commenced. The code will contain both mandatory and non-mandatory provisions. Once the model meeting code is finalised, and prescribed by regulation, councils will be required to adopt a code of meeting practice that incorporates its mandatory provisions. Councils’ codes of meeting practice must not contain provisions that are inconsistent with the mandatory provisions of the model meeting code.
16-45 – NSW Government response to the Independent Review of Swimming Pool Regulation
The NSW Government has released the Final Report of Mr Michael Lambert’s Independent Review of Swimming Pool Regulation, along with its response.
16-44 – Election Timing and Cycle of Council Elections
The NSW Government is seeking to clarify the timing of electoral cycles given the ‘pending’ status of a number of merger proposals as a consequence of legal action taken by councils covered by these proposals. The information provided in this circular is based on advice received from the NSW Electoral Commissioner.
16-43 – Responsible Pet Ownership Grants Program – Successful Applicants in Year Three
Applications for year three of the Responsible Pet Ownership Grants Program have now been assessed and 35 projects with a total project value of $302,591 will receive grant funding.
Starting in 2014-15, the NSW Government committed $900,000 over three years to the Grants Program.
16-42 – Review of the Model Code of Conduct and Procedures for the Administration of the Model Code of Conduct
The recent amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act) will see the pecuniary interest provisions of the Act and the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 incorporated into the Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW (the Model Code).
16-41 – Annual Code of Conduct Complaints Reporting
Under the Model Code of Conduct Procedures, each council’s complaints coordinator must report annually on a range of complaint statistics to their council and to the Office of Local Government within 3 months of the end of September.
16-40 – 2016 local government elections – survey of candidates and councillors
Councils are required to respond to this information request under section 429 of the Local Government Act 1993.Councils can use the Statistical Information Sheets that candidates completed prior to the elections to complete the survey. Councils are required to retain these sheets under clause 391(6) of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005.
16-39 – 2016 edition of the Councillor Handbook
The Office of Local Government has issued an updated edition of the Councillor Handbook.
The Councillor Handbook has been updated to reflect developments over the last four years and recent amendments to the Local Government Act 1993.
16-38 – 2016 “Hit the Ground Running” Councillor Workshops for councils with elections in September and October 2016 – promotional flyer and online registrations
A promotional flyer has been produced to provide information to General Managers and Councillors on the upcoming “Hit the Ground Running” Councillor Workshops.
Online registrations are now open for General Managers to enrol themselves and their Councillors to attend one of the workshops.
16-37 Local authority mandatory swimming pool inspection program reminder
Local authorities are required to develop and adopt a program for the inspection of swimming pools in their areas to ensure compliance with the requirements of section 22B of the Swimming Pools Act 1992 (the Act).