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.
Register of Interests Guide
All Councillors, members of Council special committees and nominated staff must lodge primary and ordinary returns in which they disclose particular private interests that have the potential to become conflicts of interest. The Register of Interests Guide (PDF 237 kb) or (Word 1076 kb) explains the process for lodging returns and includes important information about which personal interests must be disclosed.
Guide to Councillor Conduct Arrangements
The Guide to Councillor Conduct Arrangements (PDF 642 kb) or (Word 1.75 MB) 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.
Conflict of Interest in Local Government
The Local Government Act 1989 was amended in 2008 to include new conflict of interest rules for Councils. The new rules provide clearer and more comprehensive definitions of what is a conflict of interest as well as extending the rules to cover additional meetings of Councillors. The new conflict of interest rules apply to Councillors, Council staff, members of Council committees and, in some cases, Council contractors.
The guide Conflict of Interest in Local Government (PDF 564 kb) or (Word 753 kb), describes the rules about disclosing conflicts of interest that apply to Councillors, Council officers, members of Council committees and Council contractors. It includes many examples as well as advice about how to understand and apply the rules.
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 Minister for Local Government, on 8 May 2007, 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.
On 10 April 2008 the Minister for Local Government Richard Wynne announced the new policy
Recognition and Support: the Victorian Government's Policy Statement on Local Government Mayoral and Councillor Allowances and Resources (PDF 142 kb).
Minister's media release (PDF 79 kb).
Local Government (Councillor Remuneration Review) Panel Report (PDF 273 kb) was completed on 25 January 2008.
Government's Response to recommendations of the Local Government (Councillor Remuneration Review) Panel Report (PDF 53 kb).
The new package and policy will take effect immediately after the forthcoming 29 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.
Web Site Updates
DPCD's websites are progressively being updated to reflect the changes following the establishment of the
department. This means you will continue to see some references to the Department for Victorian Communities
(DVC) as changes are being made.
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