2019-08-06 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                    6 AUGUST 2019


7                        UPDATE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND REFORMS
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                               Chief Executive Officer, Brett de Chastel
                                     CEO’s Office

Index                                ECM/ Subject/ Council Meetings General

Attachments                          Nil


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Services & Organisation
Committee Meeting dated 6 August 2019 and:
A.                       Note that our current governance arrangements are in accordance with the existing
                         provisions of the Local Government Act;
B.                       Note that the Local Government Electoral (Implementing Stage 2 of Belcarra) and Other
                         Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 currently before State Parliament will introduce a range of
                         changes impacting on Councils and Councillors and request the Chief Executive Officer to
                         arrange for suitable training for Councillors on the new legislative provisions;
C.                       Note that further legislative reforms are proposed by the State government in relation to the
                         governance and electoral arrangements for local government but that no specific provisions
                         have yet been provided by the State; and
D.                       Request the Chief Executive Officer to monitor the further changes proposed by the State
                         government as outlined in item C above, and once certainty has been provided by the
                         State, provide advice to Council on any changes that will be required to Council’s
                         governance arrangements.

REPORT
This is one of the series of reports to Council arising from the decision of the Council on 20 June
2019 (ref. Ordinary Meeting Minutes, item 5, page 5) to defer consideration of a notice of motion.
The deferral resolution of Council at that time was as follows:
“That debate on the Notified Motion be deferred to the Ordinary Meeting on 15 August 2019 in
order to:
A.                       Receive a report from the Chief Executive Officer on videoing/live streaming of Council
                         meetings in accordance with the Council decision of 20 December 2018 (Ref. Item 6,
                         Page 16);
B.                       Receive a report from the Chief Executive Officer on a new set of Standing Orders for
                         Council in accordance with the Council decision of 20 December 2018 (Ref. Item 15,
                         Page 10);
C.                       Receive a report from the Chief Executive Officer on current and proposed legislative
                         changes to the Local Government Act by the State Government that will impact on Council’s
                         governance arrangements; and
D.                       Receive a report from the Chief Executive Officer on any other matters in the Notified
                         Motion that will enable Councillors to consider the costs, practical implications and legal
                         aspects of the issues raised in the Notice of Motion.”

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