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This article was published on Monday, 29 April, 2024. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Consultation now open for Council’s Governance Rules

In summary:

Public consultation has been launched for updates to Council's administrative procedures.
Changes include appointing acting mayors, virtual meeting rules, and conflict of interest guidance.
The Governance Rules aim to improve good governance, accountability, and transparency.
Share your feedback online at Shaping Greater Shepp from 29 April to 12 May 2024.

The Governance Rules are a legislative requirement establishing a number of administrative procedures which Council must follow. Council’s current Governance Rules were first adopted in August 2020, with Council’s Governance team undertaking a review in line with the 2024 General Election.

Council Officers have made some key changes, including:

Introduction of the appointment of an Acting Mayor in the event the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are unable to perform their duties.
Improved clarity regarding Councillor attendance at virtual and hybrid meetings.
Directions where a quorum cannot be maintained due to a conflict of interest.
Reintroduction of alterations to motions.
The introduction of subject matter experts to provide advice on Notices of Motion that may present high or extreme risks to the organisation.
Improved clarity around the submission and acceptance of petitions, specifically in electronic form.
Expanded guidance on Conflicts of Interest.

The revised Governance Rules will now be made available for community consultation. Following this, Council will consider any feedback received prior to deliberating the Governance Rules at the July 2024 Council Meeting.

“The amendments made to the Governance Rules aim to meet the principles of good governance, accountability and transparency in Council’s decision-making framework. They also aim to build community confidence,” Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali said.

“Many of the changes simply bring the rules into line with our current practices.”

Community consultation will be available for two weeks from Monday 29 April 2024 to Sunday 12 May 2024.

To have your say during the consultation period, please visit the Shaping Greater Shepp website.