LEGAL COUNSEL UPDATE · Report

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                          20 JANUARY 2025




6. Benefits to Council

A. Risk
o      The primary benefit across Council has been an overall reduction in risk. This has been
       demonstrated by:
     i.     Addressing matters early (i.e. reviewing contracts before being signed) it is decreasing the
           likelihood of future claims, upskilling Council staff and improving process efficiencies and
           contract management;
    ii.    Completing a Privacy review (Council-wide), which included an update of all Council’s online
           and hard copy forms and the internal/ customer service process when personal information
           is taken and/ or recorded, to ensure compliance with privacy law;
    iii.   Identifying gaps in knowledge or areas that require training or updating the relevant areas
           (i.e. legal reforms etc);
    iv.    Reviewing draft correspondence by staff before it is sent out to external parties to ensure
           Council is legally protected, it is accurate and professional.

B. Staff Training
o      Legal Counsel has conducted or facilitated the following training sessions for Council staff in
       areas where knowledge gaps had been identified:
     i.    Privacy Law and recent reforms – received several privacy-related requests following the
           presentation;
    ii.    Commercial Contracts training day – the session was instigated after identifying a gap in
           knowledge in this area following several requests for advice from various departments. The
           feedback on the relevance and utility of the session has been very positive;
    iii.   AS4000 Construction Contracts – basics (for civil infrastructure, civil operations and
           maintenance, Workplace Health & Safety and People & Culture) and more advanced
           knowledge for Project Managers (to be scheduled early 2025);
    iv.    Disseminating legal updates and advice to the relevant teams.