2023-02-07 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                7 FEBRUARY 2023


In addition to the remuneration determined by the Commission, Councillors receive payment for
reasonable expenses incurred in discharging their official duties and responsibilities in
accordance with the Noosa Council ‘Councillors’ Expenses Reimbursement and Provision of
Facilities Policy’ established under Section 250 of the Local Government Regulation 2012.
As previously identified, an important function of the Commission is to review the categories of
local governments every 4 years, in the year prior to each quadrennial election. In its Annual
Report the Commission identified that it would undertake an analysis of the categories of local
governments and the category system this year (noting local government elections are to be held
in early 2024) and that it will engage with and invite submissions from councils and stakeholders.
It is recommended that Noosa Shire Council submit to this review. This is on the basis of the
recategorisation of Noosa Shire Council under the Department of State Development,
Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning (DSDILGP) sustainability framework. Late last
year, Noosa Shire Council was advised of the recategorisation, which now places the Council
within the Major Cities regional category for financial sustainability. While the development of the
sustainably framework by DSDILGP has considered that individual councils face a unique set of
financial, service delivery and community need circumstances; and are impacted by a wide range
of social and economic drivers. DSDILGP has allocated each council to a category for
sustainability reporting and monitoring purposes. The framework categories are based on the
remoteness of the local government area as reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and
population. DSDIGLP has advised that the grouping of councils allows for the establishment of
fit-for-purpose targets for each monitoring measure. Under this methodology, Noosa Shire
Council is a Tier 3 council. It should be noted that the majority of the councils within this tier are
category 4 councils and as such given the requirement for the Council to adhere to tier 3 financial
sustainability, it is viewed that the Mayor and Councillors should be remunerated at their level of
responsibility.
Further reports to the Council will be provided for discussion and resolution should a submission
to the Commission be made. Without pre-empting the outcomes of the Commission’s review,
should Noosa Council be determined to be a different Category then the remuneration to be paid
to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors would vary accordingly.
Previous Council Consideration
Nil.
Finance
The increase in councillors’ remuneration will be included in the 2023-24 salaries budget.
Risks & Opportunities
The Local Government Remuneration Commission has a statutory responsibility (Local
Government Act Queensland 2009) to make decisions relating to the categories of local
governments and the maximum amount of remuneration payable to councillors. As identified in
the report there will be an opportunity for Council to make a submission to the Commission in its
review of the categories of local governments to be undertaken this year.
Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
Nil
Internal Consultation
      Chief Executive Officer
      Acting Finance Manager




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