2020-05-12 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA    12 MAY 2020



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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                     12 MAY 2020

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            ( ”       Nrelen                                                        Council Policy
               i      Reelenree                        COUNCILLORS ACCEPTABLE
                                                                REQUESTS GUIDELINES

          Corporate Plan Reference:             Theme - Excellence as a Council — The Noosa Community is
                                                proud of its Council                                       |
          Endorsed by Council:                  To be inserted

          Policy Author:                        Director Executive Services

           POLICY BACKGROUND

           This policy sets out the guidelines for requests for assistance, advice or information by councillors to local
           government employees to assist councillors to carry out their responsibilities under the Local Government
           Act 2009 (the Act)

           Section 170A (7) of the Act requires that Council adopts Acceptable Requests Guidelines about the way
           in which a councillor may ask local government employees for advice to help them carry out their
           responsibilities under the Act and reasonable limits on requests that a councillor may make.
           As such, this Policy provides guidance about:
               e  The way in which a councillor may ask a local government employee for advice to help the
                  councillor carry out his or her responsibilities under the Act;
               e  Reasonable limits on requests that a councillor may make; and
               e  Giving directions to council employees.
           Noosa Council encourages an open information flow between Councillors and Council employees.
           Councillors and Council employees are encouraged to interact with each other openly and share ideas
           and information to enable Council to provide exceptional service to our community.
           Whilst the legislative roles and responsibilities of the political arm (the Mayor and Councillors) and
           administrative arm (the Chief Executive Officer and Council employees) of Council differ, both arms are
           working together towards the same Council vision as set out in our Corporate Plan — “Noosa Shire —
           different by nature”.
           COUNCIL POLICY

           Councillors may request assistance, advice or information to carry out their responsibilities under the Act
           from local government employees on matters that are within the scope of responsibility or knowledge
           where:

               e  the request is of the nature of a simple question that can be verbally responded to; and
               e  the employee normally provides similar assistance, advice or information to either the public or
                  more senior employees of the local government.
           However no councillor including the Mayor may give a direction to any local government employee with
           the exception of the Mayor directing the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

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