Documents in place for new Local Government Act

Published on 19 August 2020

Campaspe Shire Council has adopted a number of documents at this week’s meeting in line with stage one of the new Local Government Act 2020.

Mayor, Cr Adrian Weston said stage one requires a number of compliance obligations to be in place before 1 September 2020.

“At our meeting we adopted Governance Rules, a Local Law and a Public Transparency Policy as well as approving new management arrangements for 20 Council owned facilities currently managed by Section 86 Committees,” Cr Weston said.

The draft Governance Rules were released for community comment in June this year. Two submissions were received, with some changes made in the adopted document reflecting the comments received.

The Rules outline the procedures for Council Meetings and set the rules of behaviour for those participating and present at the meeting. They also outline the process for the appointment of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

“The Governance Rules aim to ensure open and transparent Council meetings, detailing how business is conducted and accountability in the decision-making process,” Cr Weston said.

With the new Governance Rules capturing much of the previous Meeting Procedure Local Law, the new Local Law is now confined to the use of the Common Seal affixed to documents authorised by Council, a Delegated Committee or the Chief Executive Officer.

The Local Law was also put out to the community in June this year. One submission was received in support of the document with Council now adopting the document.

Council also adopted a new policy required under the Local Government Act 2020. The Public Transparency Policy outlines how Council will make information available to the public, including how Council will respond to requests for information.

“This is a new policy and details what information we must publicly make available and the avenues we have in place for accessing it. Access to information can be provided by hard copy, soft copy, by inspection, on Council’s website or at Council offices,” Cr Weston said.

The Governance Rules, Local Law and Public Transparency Policy are available on Council’s website.

The final report presented to the meeting, associated with the new Act, introduces new management and transition arrangements for Council owned facilities, previously managed under Section 86 Committees. The Act enables Council to develop localised approaches for the management of these facilities and 16 committees will move to a Management Agreement, Licence Agreement or Lease Agreement.

“A Management Agreement will be developed with 16 committees associated with recreation reserves, open spaces, community halls and other Council owned facilities,” the Mayor said.

“Council will assist these committees in the first year with all reasonable costs required to transition across from a Section 86 Committee to an incorporated association.”

In reviewing the management arrangements, two groups, the Kyabram Plaza Theatre Inc and Kyabram Fauna Park Inc, will move to a Licence Agreement and Lease Agreement respectively.

Council staff will continue working through other requirements of the new Local Government Act 2020 in line with the four-stage process, with all requirements to be completed by 1 July 2021.