Review of Payment of Expenses and Provisions for Councillors

Review of Payment of Expenses and Provisions for Councillors

This policy is to ensure accountability and transparency in the payment and/or reimbursement of expenses to the Lord Mayor and Councillors

26/05/2011 - 23/06/2011

The purpose of this Policy is to ensure that there is accountability and transparency in the payment and/or reimbursement of expenses to the Lord Mayor and Councillors in carrying out their civic duties and that these expenses and the facilities provided are appropriate and reasonable.

The Division of Local Government (DLG) provides guidelines to assist Councils in developing, implementing and reviewing this Policy and these guidelines have been taken into account in reviewing the existing Policy.

The Amended Policy proposes a number of enhancements to improve accountability and transparency and include:

The addition of detailed reporting requirements, including the quarterly reporting of
expenses to the Corporate Governance Committee and an audit of expenses being
incorporated into the Internal Audit Plan every two years.
An update of the approval arrangements requiring all conference/seminar attendance to be submitted to, and approved by Council, where possible.
The ability to request a payments in advance.
A revised timeframe for lodging a claim for reimbursement of expenses.
The requirement for the submission of a report by a Councillor following attendance at a Conference.
The addition of the requirement for Councillors to attend DLG Post Election Seminars and familiarise themselves with the DLG Councillor Development Strategy.
An update of legal expenses and obligations provisions.
An update of mobile telephony and communications equipment and limits.
The addition of a Dispute Resolution process where a Councillor disputes the decision on an expenses claim or provision of facilities.

Payment of Expenses and Provision of Facilities to Lord Mayor and Councillors.pdf

Feedback on the amended draft Payment of Expenses and Provision of Facilities to Lord Mayor and Councillors Policy is accepted until 5pm Thursday, 23 June 2011.

Any person wishing to make a submission may do so by writing to the General Manager, Wollongong City Council, Locked Bag 8821, Wollongong DC NSW 2500 or by email at council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au.

For more information call Council’s Customer Service Centre on 4227 7111.

In accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009, your submission including any personal information such as your name and address, will be made available for public inspection and may be exhibited on Council’s website. You may request, in the form of a statutory declaration, that Council suppress the personal information in your submission from public inspection, if you consider that the personal safety of any person would be affected if the information was not suppressed. Any such request will be dealt with in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998.

You may also make an anonymous submission however if you choose to do so Council will be unable to contact you any further as to the outcome of your submission. It should also be noted that the lack of information as to your place of living may affect Council's consideration of the potential impact of the subject proposal.

Note: If Council receives a submission from any person who is legally required to provide a disclosure of any reportable political donation and / or gift under section 147 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, Council is legally required to publicly disclose all relevant details of the reportable political donation or gift onto Council's website. This will include the name and residential address of the person who provided the political donation or gift onto Council's website for full viewing by the general public.

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WOLLONGONG CITY COUNCIL
▪ Address: Wollongong City Council, 41 Burelli Street, Wollongong NSW 2500 ▪ Postal: Locked Bag 8821 Wollongong NSW 2500
▪ DX: 27811 Wollongong Court ▪ Phone: (02) 4227 7111 ▪ Fax: (02) 4227 7277 ▪ Email: council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
▪ Web: www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au ABN 63 139 525 939 – GST Registered