Governance Rules 2022 Review

Consultation has concluded

Council is committed to working with the community to improve public confidence in the decision-making process and to ensuring decisions reflect the best interest of all sections of our community.

The Local Government Act 2020 (the Act) requires Council to adopt and maintain Governance Rules. The existing Governance Rules were first adopted on 25 August 2020 and replaced the Local Law No 1 Meeting Procedures.

When online meetings became a necessity during the pandemic, the Victorian Government approved temporary changes to the legislation to allow council meetings to take place online. These temporary arrangements are set to expire 1 September 2022.

Amendments have been made to the Act which make permanent the temporary emergency provisions relating to electronic attendance and participation at Council meetings, by requiring relevant procedures to be incorporated into the Governance Rules.

This change will give Council the flexibility to hold meetings in a way that best supports good decision-making. In amending the Governance Rules to address the legislative changes, we have taken the opportunity to conduct a complete review of the Rules to clarify processes, address inconsistencies and strengthen good governance practices.

Key Proposed Changes

There are two areas of the document that show substantial change. These are:

Section 3 – Meeting format and the use of electronic communication

The amending legislation specifically requires Council to include a process for requesting and approval of attendance at Council meetings and meetings of delegated committees by electronic means of communication.

Accordingly, this new section sets out the meeting formats that Council may use, how a meeting format may be determined and the process for Councillors or members of delegated committees to request attendance via electronic means of communication.

Section 8 – Community participation

This section formalises how members of the community can participate in Council meetings and the protocols to be observed.

The proposed changes are:

  • to provide a more structured approach to community participation at Council meetings;
  • largely modelled on existing practice; and
  • to provide greater flexibility for how community members may participate at Council meetings.

We are seeking community feedback on the proposed changes to the Governance Rules in accordance with section 60(4) of the Act, and hereby invite public submissions in relation to the following:

  • Section 3 – Meeting format and the use of electronic communication
  • Section 4 – Notice of meetings and availability of agenda
  • Section 6 – Election of Mayor
  • Section 7 – Business of meetings
  • Section 8 – Community participation
  • Section 9 – Voting
  • Section 11 – Motions and debate
  • Section 13 – Minutes
  • Section 19 – Conflict of Interest

Residents and ratepayers may lodge a written submission to the Chief Executive Officer at East Gippsland Shire Council, PO Box 1618 Bairnsdale VIC 3875 or via email to feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au by 5pm on Tuesday 16 August 2022.

Council is committed to working with the community to improve public confidence in the decision-making process and to ensuring decisions reflect the best interest of all sections of our community.

The Local Government Act 2020 (the Act) requires Council to adopt and maintain Governance Rules. The existing Governance Rules were first adopted on 25 August 2020 and replaced the Local Law No 1 Meeting Procedures.

When online meetings became a necessity during the pandemic, the Victorian Government approved temporary changes to the legislation to allow council meetings to take place online. These temporary arrangements are set to expire 1 September 2022.

Amendments have been made to the Act which make permanent the temporary emergency provisions relating to electronic attendance and participation at Council meetings, by requiring relevant procedures to be incorporated into the Governance Rules.

This change will give Council the flexibility to hold meetings in a way that best supports good decision-making. In amending the Governance Rules to address the legislative changes, we have taken the opportunity to conduct a complete review of the Rules to clarify processes, address inconsistencies and strengthen good governance practices.

Key Proposed Changes

There are two areas of the document that show substantial change. These are:

Section 3 – Meeting format and the use of electronic communication

The amending legislation specifically requires Council to include a process for requesting and approval of attendance at Council meetings and meetings of delegated committees by electronic means of communication.

Accordingly, this new section sets out the meeting formats that Council may use, how a meeting format may be determined and the process for Councillors or members of delegated committees to request attendance via electronic means of communication.

Section 8 – Community participation

This section formalises how members of the community can participate in Council meetings and the protocols to be observed.

The proposed changes are:

  • to provide a more structured approach to community participation at Council meetings;
  • largely modelled on existing practice; and
  • to provide greater flexibility for how community members may participate at Council meetings.

We are seeking community feedback on the proposed changes to the Governance Rules in accordance with section 60(4) of the Act, and hereby invite public submissions in relation to the following:

  • Section 3 – Meeting format and the use of electronic communication
  • Section 4 – Notice of meetings and availability of agenda
  • Section 6 – Election of Mayor
  • Section 7 – Business of meetings
  • Section 8 – Community participation
  • Section 9 – Voting
  • Section 11 – Motions and debate
  • Section 13 – Minutes
  • Section 19 – Conflict of Interest

Residents and ratepayers may lodge a written submission to the Chief Executive Officer at East Gippsland Shire Council, PO Box 1618 Bairnsdale VIC 3875 or via email to feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au by 5pm on Tuesday 16 August 2022.