2015-05-26 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                   26 MAY 2015


13                       CONTACT WITH LOBBYISTS POLICY AND GUIDELINE
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                              Governance Advisor, Paul Bright
                                    Executive Office

Index                               ECM/Corporate Governance

Attachments                         1.    Contact with Lobbyists Policy
                                    2.    Contact with Lobbyists Organisational Guideline
                                    3.    Contact with Lobbyists Flowchart


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Nil.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Governance Advisor to the Planning & Organisation
Committee Meeting dated 26 May 2015 and:
A.                       Repeal the Contact with Lobbyists CEO Guideline that transferred to the Noosa Council
                         from the Sunshine Coast Regional Council under the Local Government (De-amalgamation
                         Implementation) Regulation 2013 and adopt the Noosa Council Contact with Lobbyists
                         Policy provided at Attachment 1;
B.                       Note the Contact with Lobbyists Organisational Guideline provided at Attachment 2, which
                         is to be authorised and amended by the CEO (as required); and
C.                       Note the Contact with Lobbyists Flowchart provided at Attachment 3.



REPORT
The purpose of this report is to inform Council of the responsibilities of Councillors and Council
Officers under the Integrity Act 2009 (The Act) and to seek Council’s endorsement of the Policy
provided at Attachment 1.

1.                       Background

The Act is intended to promote trust in the integrity of government processes and ensure that
contact between lobbyists and government representatives is conducted in accordance with
public expectations of transparency and integrity. Lobbyists and government representatives
(including Councillors and Council Officers) are expected to comply with the requirements of The
Act.

The attached Policy provided at Attachment 1 will assist Council to:
 Preserve confidence in the good governance of the Noosa Council;
 Minimise the likelihood of claims being made of improper dealings, bias or conflict of interest
   relating to lobbyists; and
 Promote transparency.

It is accepted that Councillors and Council Officers will be approached or lobbied by members of
the community on a broad range of issues. However, there is a difference between the type of
lobbying carried out by ordinary members of the community and professional lobbyists engaged
by a third party client for fee or reward to influence local government decision making.

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