2015-05-26 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA     26 MAY 2015




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       f)    If it is considered that the contact by a lobbyist has compromised the Councillor's position in
             any way or created a conflict of interest, this should be appropriately dealt with by the
             Councillor in accordance with the Loca/ Government Act 2009;
       g)    Gifts or inducements of any Kind should not be accepted;
       h) _ Ifitis considered that the lobbyist has engaged in conduct that is corrupt, dishonest or illegal,
             or caused or threatened any detriment to the Councillor, this should be reported to the CEO
             or Mayor who will inform the Integrity Commissioner of the actions of the lobbyist; and
       i)    If a lobbyist divulges confidential information relating to their client, this confidentiality should
             be respected and maintained unless disclosure is required by law.

       Given the nature of a Councillor's role and their work environment, it is acknowledged that
       lobbyists may approach a Councillor at informal gatherings and chance encounters.
       In such circumstances, Councillors are entitled to accept statements by lobbyists that they and
       their clients are properly registered on the Integrity Commissioners Register and proceed with
       discussing the lobbying matter (if desired). Obviously, it will be impractical for Councillors to check
       the register of lobbyists held by the Integrity Commissioner when out of their office. However, this
       should be completed as soon as practical. If it is later determined that the details provided by the
       lobbyist are not correct, the Integrity Commissioner should be contacted.
       It is important for Councillors to note that even if a lobbyist discharges his or her obligations under
       the Lobbyists Code of Conduct, it remains the decision of the Councillor as to whether or not they
       will permit a lobbyist to lobby them on a particular issue at any given time.
       Rather than stipulate when and where our Councillors meet with lobbyists, Council directs each
       Councillor to be transparent and use their discretion and judgement when engaging in contact with
       lobbyists. Councillors should take care that their duty to consider issues fairly and properly is not
       compromised by participating in lobbying practices that are outside the bounds of appropriate or
       lawful behaviour.

       6.    Guiding Principles for Council Officers
       Our Officers must only permit a lobbyist to contact them to conduct a lobbying activity in the
       following circumstances:
       a)    When making initial contact with a Council Officer, the lobbyist must inform the Officer:
             e  That they are a registered lobbyist;
             e  That they are making contact on behalf of a third party;
             e  Ofthe name of the third party;
             e  The reason for the approach; and
             *  The nature of the issue.
       b)    The lobbying activity is not prohibited by any other Council process (such as the terms of an
             invitation for an expression of interest or tender).
       c)    The lobbying activity must take place in a prearranged formal meeting setting.
       d)    Prior to the meeting, the Council Officer must confirm the lobbyist’s details against the
             Integrity Commissioner's Register of Lobbyists (if the details do not match, the lobbying
             activity cannot take place). The Register can be accessed through the following link
              ttp://lobbyists.integrity.qid.qov.au/who-is-on-the-reqister aspx
       e)    A Council Officer must advise their relevant Director of a request to lobby them and obtain
             approval before the lobbying activity takes place. In the case of the CEO, the Mayor should
             be advised.

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