2019-11-12 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                              12 NOVEMBER 2019


 Councillor access to information – Expanded councillor rights to access council information
   includes that the CEO must ensure councillors obtain requested information within 10
   business days of the request or advise that is not practicable and then provide within 20
   business days.
 Budgets – Clarified responsibilities for councillors in preparing council budgets include that all
   councillors are now responsible for setting budgets.
 Mayoral powers changes –
   o    Senior executive employees can only be directed by the CEO, not elected officials.
   o    Mayor can only direct the CEO in accordance with council policies and decisions.
c. In effect from 20 January 2020
 Financial disclosures – Improved financial disclosures of real donations and gift sources and
   expenditure disclosures include:
    o    Real-time disclosures of electoral donations and loans ($500 minimum) required within
         seven (7) days:
          Gifts from individuals: the individual’s occupation or industry (to ensure they are not
            a prohibited donor).
          Gifts from companies: details of directors and whether company has business with
            council.
    o    Third parties are required to disclose if the expenditure was used to benefit or support a
         candidate, a group or an issue.
    o    Information to be published by ECQ.
    o    Candidates must notify donors of disclosure obligations.
    o    Candidates must notify public of requirement to disclose.
    o    Donors must advise candidates of the true source of donations.
d. In effect 30 March 2020
 Councillor complaints – The Office of the Independent Assessor will now investigate
   councillor complaints for Brisbane City Council.
e. Other reforms
 Prohibited campaigning techniques - Only political parties and registered groups of
   candidates can undertake group-like campaigning techniques.
 Postal ballot elections - Councils to apply to the Minister for Local Government before 1 May
   in the year before a quadrennial election for referral to the Electoral Commissioner who will
   provide recommendations to the Minister for approval. New criteria for postal ballot elections
   includes:
   o    the views of council;
   o    costs;
   o    numbers of electors and population density; and,
   o    history of postal ballots.
 Multi-member divisions - Amendment to clarify that a division may be represented by more
   than one councillor.




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