2015-03-03 Planning & Organisation Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA     3 MARCH 2015


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PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                 3 MARCH 2015

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            x Ey       NOOSA                                                         Council Policy
            © | COUNCIL                                          COUNCILLOR REQUEST
                                                                                     GUIDELINES

           Corporate Plan Reference:             Culture - ‘One Team’ and ‘No Bureaucracy’

           Endorsed by Council:                  <Insert Date of Ordinary Meeting >

           Policy Author:                        Chief Executive Officer

           POLICY BACKGROUND

           Pursuant to section 170A of the Local Government Act 2009 (the Act), a Local Government must adopt
           by resolution, guidelines about:
           e   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; and
           e   Reasonable limits on requests that a Councillor may make.

           COUNCIL POLICY
           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 — “Engagement with
           our community,to protect and enhance our lifestyle”.
           We will know if this policy is successful because Councillors and Council employees are working together
           as one team.

           Subject to the limits outlined below, a Councillor may request:
           e  Council employees to provide advice to assist the Councillor carry out his or her responsibilities.
           e  The CEO to provide information such as records and documents relating to Noosa Council.

           Limits on requests for information or assistance made to employees
           Requests by Councillors for assistance or advice relating to policy or complex matters should be directed
           to the CEO, relevant Director or Manager.
           Councillors should use their judgement in directing their request to the appropriate level. Conversely, it
           is expected that staff should also use their judgement to advise Councillors if it would be more appropriate
           for the Councillor's request to be dealt with by another staff member including a more senior staff member
           (particularly where the request for advice or information does not fall within the employee’s level of
           expertise or experience).

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