Council Governance
Making Local Government Work For You – The Guide to Local Government
This online guide answers many of the most common questions about councils – how they work, how they make and spend money and how they are elected. It also provides useful information about how you can engage with your local council and become involved.
Local Government (Long Service Leave) Regulations 2012
The proposed Local Government (Long Service Leave) Regulations 2012 (PDF 76kb) or (Word 112kb) and accompanying Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF 434kb) or (Word 380kb) are now available for public comment.
Submissions close on 25 November 2011.
Council Staff Codes of Conduct Framework
The Framework for the Development and Review of Council Staff Codes of Conduct (PDF 353kb) or (Word 906kb) has been produced by Local Government Victoria, in association with the Reference Group on Council (Staff and Others) Codes of Conduct.
This framework aims to support Council Chief Executive Officers in fulfilling their responsibilities to develop and implement staff codes of conduct under the Local Government Act 1989. It has been designed as a resource for those Council officers across Victoria involved in governance, human resources and risk management that have a lead role in assisting the CEO in developing the code.
Conflict of Interest: A Guide for Councillors
A concise Conflict of Interest Guide (PDF 411 Kb) or (Word 1.5 MB) is now available to help Victoria’s councillors identify and where necessary, disclose conflicts of interest.
Local governments are entrusted with a range of decision-making powers so that they can govern in the best interests in their communities. These powers should only be used in a way that is consistent with the purpose and objectives of councils, as described in the Local Government Act 1989 (the Act). This describes the conflict of interest requirements found in the Act.
Guide to Councillor Conduct Arrangements
The Guide to Councillor Conduct Arrangements (PDF 641 kb) or (Word 1800 kb) outlines the standards of conduct expected of Councillors and provides a detailed description of the functions of Councillor Conduct Panels and VCAT in dealing with Councillor misconduct.
Mayor and Councillor Entitlements
The Mayor and Councillor Entitlements Information Guide (Word 138 kb) is to assist Councils, Council staff and community understand the entitlements of Mayors and Councillors with respect to expenses reimbursement and the provision of facilities and resources support. The guide contains information on supporting awareness, policy and legislative requirements, principles and approval arrangements.
Ensuring Unbiased Democratic Council Decision Making
The recent decision of the Supreme Court of Victoria (Winky Pop Pty Ltd & Anor v Hobsons Bay City Council) has important ramifications to all councillors in highlighting their obligations to observe and comply with the common law rule of bias when making decisions affecting people’s rights, interests and legitimate expectations.
Local Government Victoria, with the assistance of the Municipal Association of Victoria, has produced a booklet Ensuring Unbiased Democratic Council Decision Making: Principles to Guide Good Practice (PDF 233 kb) and (Word 179 kb) to assist councillors in understanding the rule of bias as it relates to their role as decision makers. The guide also provides advice on how to ensure that councillors' actions are free from bias, and offers suggestions on steps to take if bias may be relevant to a proposed decision.
Councillor Remuneration Review
The Victorian Government appointed a Local Government (Councillor Remuneration Review) Panel to advise on remuneration of Victoria’s locally elected leaders through a review of current allowances and to provide advice and recommendations to the Minister on allowances and guidelines on the appropriate reimbursement of expenses and provision of resources support for the mayoral and councillor role.
In April 2008 a new policy was announced
Local Government (Councillor Remuneration Review) Panel Report (PDF 273 kb) was completed on 25 January 2008.
The new package and policy took effect immediately after the November 2008 Local Government general elections.
Better Local Governance
A framework to address issues of councillor conduct has been proposed in the Better Local Governance - Consultation Paper (PDF 299kb). Following submissions, the Better Local Governance - Submissions Summary (PDF 93 kb) or Word (160 kb) was produced.
Moving On: Women and Retirement from Local Government (October 2004)
The Victorian Local Governance Association and the Municipal Association of Victoria were funded by the Office of Women’s Policy, Department of Planning and Community Development, to undertake a research project Attrition Among Women Councillors in Victoria. Moving On sets out the qualitative findings of this research project.
Moving On: Women and Retirement from Local Government (PDF 354 kb)
Glossary of Terms
The glossary of terms relates to local government functions and roles. This page is an extract from the Local Government Act 1989; more terms and information are contained in the Act.