2014-06-17 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA    17 JUNE 2014




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PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                     17 JUNE 2014

 STRATEGIC POLICY — COUNCILLORS’ EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENT POLICY

 COUNCIL POLICY

 1     General Entitlement

 Councillors are entitled to be reimbursed reasonable expenses incurred while undertaking Council
 business and to be provided with facilities to assist them in undertaking their duties.

 2     Professional Development

 Council will reimburse or be responsible for the cost of reasonable expenses incurred for:
 e   Mandatory professional development; and/or
 e   Discretionary professional development deemed essential for the Councillor's role.
 Any professional development requiring overseas travel requires a formal Council resolution.
 2.1.  Mandatory Professional Development
 Noosa Council will reimburse or cover expenses incurred for the following activities:
 e   The Mayor’s attendance (or his Nominee Councillor) as the primary delegate at the LGAQ and
     ALGA Annual Conferences and any other relevant conferences/seminars/workshops;
 e   Workshops, courses, seminars and conferences that are important to the role of a Councillor.
 Approval to attend is made by Council resolution following a report to Council seeking approval for
 attendance, or by the Mayor.
 2.2   Discretionary Professional Development

 Each Councillor can attend, at their discretion, workshops, courses, seminars and conferences that
 improve their skills relevant to the role of Councillor. This training is initially limited to $5,000 per
 Councillor in each quadrennial term of office or $1,250 per year, but will be reviewed annually
 when setting the budget.
 There is no requirement for a Council resolution to approve these attendances. However, the
 Councillor must submit details to the Chief Executive Officer prior to attending and provide all
 relevant documentation within 14 days of attending the event to ensure reimbursement of
 expenses.

 3     Travel as Required to Represent Council

 Council will reimburse travel expenses (e.g. flights, motor vehicle, accommodation, meals and
 associated registration fees) deemed reasonable and necessary to achieve the business of
 Council where:

 e   A Councillor is an official representative of Council; and
 e   ©The activity/event and travel has been endorsed by resolution of Council, or by the Mayor.
 Approval for such travel is subject to the following conditions:
 e   Wherever possible all travel by Councillors will be booked and paid for by Council in advance;
     Council will generally cover accommodation up to a 4 star maximum standard;

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