Circulars

16-33 – 2016 Local Government Elections – Hit the Ground Running Councillor Workshops

What’s new or changing

  • In collaboration with Local Government NSW, OLG will again be providing support to councils and councillors to help them in their roles by conducting Hit the Ground Running councillor workshops following local government elections on Saturday 10 September, 2016.
  • The workshop dates and locations are as follows:
Nowra Monday 24 October 2016
Moruya Wednesday 26 October 2016
Glen Innes Wednesday 26 October 2016
Tamworth Thursday 27 October 2016
Goulburn Thursday 27 October 2016
Camden Wednesday 2 November 2016
Euston Wednesday 2 November 2016
Blacktown Thursday 3 November 2016
Broken Hill Thursday 3 November 2016
Parkes Tuesday 8 November 2016
Gilgandra Wednesday 9 November 2016
Singleton Wednesday 9 November 2016
Sydney 1 Thursday 10 November 2016
Ballina Tuesday 15 November 2016
Griffith Tuesday 15 November 2016
Coffs Harbour Wednesday 16 November 2016
Wagga Wagga Wednesday 16 November 2016
Sydney 2 Tuesday 22 November 2016
Lithgow Wednesday 23 November 2016
Moree Wednesday 23 November 2016
Cobar Tuesday 29 November 2016

What this will mean for your council

  • The one-day workshops will be based on the ‘5 Key Things’ all Councillors need to know in order for them to be effective in their roles.
  • An online registration system will be available for General Managers to register councillor attendance in late September 2016, and information about how to access the system will be provided in the near future.
  • General Managers are asked to coordinate the registration of Councillors once details about the online registration system are provided.

Key points

  • The workshops are designed to help all Councillors hit the ground running following the September 2016 elections. The workshops provide essential information to support Councillors in serving their community and fulfilling their responsibilities. All Councillors are strongly encouraged to attend.
  • The 2016 program has been updated to include information on how local government reform affects each council, particularly following recent amendments to the Local Government Act 1993.
  • The updated workshop material will also include crucial information for all Councillors on the Model Code of Conduct, Integrated Planning and Reporting framework and the support available to them during their term in relation to learning and professional development.
  • General Managers are asked to widely promote the workshops and strongly encourage attendance. This could be achieved by providing relevant workshop dates/locations in the council calendar and including the workshops on the agenda for the first council meeting.

Where to go for further information

  • A promotional flyer with further details will be available shortly.
  • Any queries about the Workshops can be directed to Council’s Relationship Manager by email to onestopshop@fitforthefuture.nsw.gov.au

Tim Hurst

Acting Chief Executive