2020-05-12 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                12 MAY 2020


3                        COUNCILLORS EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENT AND PROVISION OF FACILITIES
                         POLICY
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                                Director, Debra Iezzi
                                      Executive Services Department

Index                                 ECM/ Subject/ Councillors

Attachments                           1.   Councillors’ Expenses Reimbursement and Provision of Facilities
                                           Policy


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Director Executive Services Department to the Services &
Organisation Committee Meeting dated 12 May 2020 and adopt the updated Councillors’ Expenses
Reimbursement and Provision of Facilities Policy provided at Attachment 1 to the report.


REPORT
1.                       Background
Pursuant to section 250 of the Local Government Regulation 2012 (LGR), a local government has
the power to, and must adopt an expenses reimbursement policy.
Section 249 of the LGR defines an ‘expenses reimbursement policy’ as a policy providing for the
following:
(a) Payment of reasonable expenses incurred, or to be incurred, by Councillors for discharging
      their duties and responsibilities as Councillors;
(b) Provision of facilities to Councillors for that purpose.
The policy provided at Attachment 1 is an updated version of the Councillors Expenses and
Reimbursement Policy adopted by the previous Council on 18 October 2018. It is a requirement of
the current policy that this policy be reviewed within six months of each quadrennial election.

2.                       The Policy

It is fair and appropriate that Councillors are reimbursed for all reasonable expenses incurred whilst
undertaking Council business and that they are provided with adequate facilities necessary to
perform their Council duties.

The purpose of the policy is to ensure accountability and transparency by setting the parameters
to authorise payment of reasonable expenses incurred, or to be incurred by Councillors; and outline
the provision of facilities to be provided to assist Councillors in discharging their duties and
responsibilities.

Council has a broad discretion when determining the nature and scope of support facilities to be
provided under this policy. However, it must ensure that the allocation of expenses and facilities
provided is aligned to community expectations and do not constitute additional remuneration to
that which is set by the Local Government Remuneration Commission.
The policy has been developed having regard to the following Local Government Principles as
outlined in section 4 of the Local Government Act 2009:
 Transparent and effective processes, and decision making in the public interest;

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