Caretaker mode for NSW councils signals final stretch to elections
Shelley Hancock – Minister for Local Government
Friday, 5 November 2021
Local councils across NSW will enter caretaker mode from today until Election Day on December 4, signaling the final countdown to the polls.
Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said during the next four weeks councils cannot make any major policy decisions.
During the caretaker period, councils, general managers and other delegates of councils (other than a joint regional planning panel, a local planning panel or the Central Sydney Planning Committee) must not:
- Enter into any contract or undertaking involving an expenditure or receipt by the council of an amount equal to or greater than $150,000 or one percent of the council’s revenue from rates in the preceding financial year (whichever is the larger).
- Determine a “controversial development application”, for which at least 25 persons have made submissions during community consultation.
- Appoint or reappoint the council’s general manager (except for temporary appointments).
- Minister Hancock said all councils know to plan ahead to avoid the need to make these types of decisions during the caretaker period.
Some exemptions do apply and, in certain circumstances, these functions may be exercised with the approval of the Minister.
MEDIA: Alison Balding | 0459 879 134
| PDF Version | Ministerial Media Release – 5 November 2021 |