Legal Counsel Update
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1Committee RecommendationCarried
Moved: Frank Wilkie · Seconded: Karen Finzel
That Council note the report by the Legal Counsel to the General Committee Meeting dated 20 January 2025 regarding an update on the new role of Legal Counsel and associated legal activities.
Carried unanimously.
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| Committee Recommendation |
| Moved: | Cr Frank Wilkie |
| Seconded: | Cr Karen Finzel |
That Council note the report by the Legal Counsel to the General Committee Meeting dated 20 January 2025 regarding an update on the new role of Legal Counsel and associated legal activities. |
Carried unanimously. |
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Named discussion on NoosaWatch TV
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Hi, and apologies, I can't be in there today. Thanks, Diana. My name's Krista, for those that don't know yet. It was requested by Council that I provide this report and give an update on this new role of in-house legal counsel. Since there's. Since Noosa de-amalgamated a little over 10 years ago, there hasn't been an internal legal support within Council and this position commenced last December, sorry, December 2023. So I'm providing this general report to give Council some level of detail in the scope of my role, including excluded scope, the type of work I've been undertaking and any benefits that I have seen for Council in having an internal legal service. The scope of my role includes the following legal support for Council: commercial transactions and negotiations, which include reviews and interpretations of agreements, MOUs, deeds, terms and conditions, etc. Legislative interpretation and legal updates across Council. Legal advice both internal and external in briefing external lawyers as required on various proposals, disputes and other general matters. Council. Coordinating and oversight and tracking of litigation cases across Council. Legal risk guidance, targeted legal education training and awareness for staff, legal review of all delegations and policies. There are some areas that are excluded from my scope and these include procurement, planning, building and plumbing and prosecutions on behalf of teams which is local law enforcement. This is due to the highly specialised nature of these areas. In 2024, I have seen the a key benefits realised and these include conservative cost savings of over $200,000 up to and including 7 November of last year, creating additional resources. For Council. Including a legal advice database and an overall improvement in commercial processes and dealings, which has thereby reduced risk. This has mainly been achieved by upskilling staff with education, training and targeted legal updates, reviews and legal advice. Ultimately, the major benefit to Council, I think, since the implementation of this role, has been a risk reduction, and this has been achieved by upskilling staff, better contract terms and conditions and contract management, and increasing knowledge, awareness and our legal resources. This is also improving the quality and utility of any external legal advice requested and received. The intention is to provide this legal update on an annual basis moving forward. So thank you. Any questions?
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