Have your say: Draft Governance Rules

17 Aug 2023

Strathbogie Shire Council is seeking input into its Draft Governance Rules.

Mayor, Cr Laura Binks, said governance rules were required under section 60 of the Local Government Act 2022.

“Perhaps more importantly, our governance rules determine how Council will make decisions fairly and in the best interests of the Strathbogie Shire community,” Cr Binks said.

The Governance Rules contain:

  • processes for Councillors, committee members and staff to declare conflicts of interest
  • Council’s Election (Caretaker) Period Policy
  • processes for the election of Mayor and (if required) Deputy Mayor and chairs of delegated committees or community asset committees
  • procedures for Council meetings, including the Audit and Risk Committee, any delegated committees and community asset committees.

“Overall, the Draft Governance Rules underpin the fundamental decision-making processes of Council and are a way in which the overarching governance, and supporting principles of The Act are implemented on a day-to-day basis,” she said.

“The meetings procedure chapter outlines the role of Councillors, officers and the community in the decision-making process.

“It ensures that decision making is orderly, inclusive and managed in a way that ensures maximum community participation.”

Key proposed changes are:

  • Revised conflict of interest rules to reflect learnings from state-wide implementations and recommendations from the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Agency (IBAC).
  • Availability of rules to address serious disruptions of Council Meetings
  • Simplification of processes.

Cr Binks encouraged interest members of the community to have their say by:

Submissions close at 5pm, Wednesday, September 13, 2023.

Learn more and have your say at Share Strathbogie.