2020-05-18 General Committee Agenda

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ATTACHMENT 1
    ¢   Ww                                                             Council Policy
 @       |   COUNCIL

  Corporate Plan Reference:             Excellence as a Council — The Noosa Community is
                                        proud of its Council
  Endorsed by Council:                  21 May 2020
  Policy Author:                        Director Executive Services

POLICY BACKGROUND
This policy sets out the guidelines for requests for assistance, advice or information by Councillors
to local government employees to assist Councillors to carry out their responsibilities under the Local
Government Act 2009 (the Act).

Section 170A (7) of the Act requires that Council adopts Acceptable Requests Guidelines about the
way in which a Councillor may ask local government employees for advice to help them carry out
their responsibilities under the Act and reasonable limits on requests that a Councillor may make.
As such, this Policy provides guidance about:
°     The way in which a Councillor may ask a local government employee for advice to help the
      Councillor carry out his or her responsibilities under the Act;
e     Reasonable limits on requests that a Councillor may make; and
°     Giving directions to Council employees.

Noosa Council encourages an open information flow between Councillors and Council employees.
Councillors and Council employees are encouraged to interact with each other openly and share
ideas and information to enable Council to provide exceptional service to our community.
Whilst the legislative roles and responsibilities of the political arm (the Mayor and Councillors) and
administrative arm (the Chief Executive Officer and Council employees) of Council differ, both arms
are working together towards the same Council vision as set out in our Corporate Plan — “Noosa
Shire — different by nature”.
Councillors in the performance of their responsibilities are required to uphold the behavioural
standards detailed in the Councillors Code of Conduct when engaging with employees. Similarly
Council employees are required to act in accordance with the expected standards of acceptable
conduct detailed within the Employee Code of Conduct.
COUNCIL POLICY
Councillors may request assistance, advice or information to carry out their responsibilities under the
Act from local government employees on matters that are within the scope of responsibility or
knowledge where:
°     The request is of the nature of a simple question that can be verbally responded to; and
°     The employee normally provides similar assistance, advice or information to either the public
      or more senior employees of the local government.

However no Councillor including the Mayor may give a direction to any local government employee
with the exception of the Mayor directing the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
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