2022-10-11 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               11 OCTOBER 2022


4     ADVERTISING SPENDING POLICY

Author            Director, Executive Services, Debra Iezzi
                  Executive Services Department

Index             ECM/ Council Meetings

Attachments       1.    Advertising Spending Policy (tracked changes version)
                  2.    Advertising Spending Policy (final version)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report proposes amendments to the Advertising Spending Policy previously approved by
Council on 25 September 2014. The proposed amendments provide greater detail on spending
for advertising reinforcing that all expenditure must be in the public interest and that Council will
not spend money on advertising for political or self-promotional purposes.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Director Executive Services to the Services & Organisation
Committee Meeting dated 11 October 2022 and approve the amended Advertising Spending
Policy provided at Attachment 2 to the Report.

REPORT
The Advertising Spending Policy was approved by Council on 25 September 2014. It is
appropriate for Council to regularly review its policies to ensure compliance with legislation and
that policies reflect community expectations and are relevant to Council’s operations.
The purpose of the Advertising Spending Policy is to provide guidelines for the control of
expenditure on advertisements placed by Council in various media to ensure the advertising is
in the public interest, that there is transparency in how public funds are spent and to provide the
community with confidence that public funds are used to meet the genuine information needs
of the community.
Section 197 of the Local Government Regulation 2012 (the Regulation) requires Council to
prepare and adopt a policy about Council’s spending on advertising. The Regulation defines
advertising as ‘promoting, for the payment of a fee, an idea, goods or services to the public.’’
“197Advertising spending
 (1) A local government must prepare and adopt a policy about the local government’s spending on
         advertising (an advertising spending policy).
 (2) A local government may spend money on advertising only—
         (a) if—
               (i) the advertising is to provide information or education to the public; and
               (ii) the information or education is provided in the public interest; and
         (b) in a way that is consistent with the local government’s advertising spending policy.
 (3)Advertising is promoting, for the payment of a fee, an idea, goods or services to the public.”
It is proposed that the Advertising Spending Policy be amended to:
       Provide further detail on the types of advertising that Council considers appropriate and
        acknowledging various communication channels and advertising methods i.e., social
        media;
       Prohibit spending on advertising for political or self-promotional purposes;
       Include restrictions on expenditure on advertising prior to an election;
       Assess compatibility with Human Rights.
Advertising should be used where the purpose of the Council or the public interest is advanced.
It should not be used to promote the particular achievements or plans of particular councillors

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