2014-02-25 Planning & Organisation Committee Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   25 FEBRUARY 2014




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PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                       25 FEBRUARY 2014

At All Times

Each Councillor must avoid making any statement to a party having a direct material interest
in a development application which that Councillor knows, or should reasonably believe,
would be construed as a view of Council as a whole, since further information and facts may
be presented during the course of the Council meeting at which the application is
considered.

It is acknowledged that Councillors may be approached at any time and without notice by
persons having an interest in a development proposal. In these circumstances it is expected
Councillors would explain the views expressed in the discussion do not represent the views
of Council as a whole and that a Council decision would only be reached after having the
benefit of the final report by the assessing officer.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR COUNCILLORS

e  The primary duty of a Councillor, and the Council, is to govem in the wider public interest
   of the community as a whole, and to pursue matters to the advantage of the Council and
   the Noosa Shire.

e   Councillors should not confuse their general representative responsibilities (advocating,
    lobbying, brokering) with the specific assessment manager role/legal determination
    responsibilities under the SPA. Similarly, Council officers should not confuse their roles
   of providing good customer service with biased or subjective technical advice.
e   For Councillors to avoid conduct which indicates a reasonable apprehension of bias they
    must ensure that they genuinely consider the relevant material, the development
   application and recommendations by Council officers prior to reaching a position.
e   Confidentiality should be maintained for any information, records, briefings and
    discussions that if released at a particular point in time, could prejudice the interests of
    Council, the public at large, or another party as per S171 Act — use of information by
    Councillors.

e   Councillors may view Council files, and are invited to make all necessary enquiries, but
    all requests should be through the Director Community & Development or Manager
    Planning & Development.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR OFFICERS

e   Officers are to act in the public interest and to take policy direction from the Mayor and
    Council.

e  Anyone with a proper interest in a development matter, including Councillors, should be
    kept informed.
e   Officers are to regularly communicate with applicants advising on the progress of an
    application, likely information required and issues that the assessment will need to
    consider.

e   Notwithstanding the fact that every development application and documentation relating
   to it (including supporting material, properly made submissions, information requests and
    referral agency responses) are publically accessible, officers should refrain from

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