West Wimmera Shire Council's new governnance rules will come into effect from September 1, after councillors voted to adopt them.
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The Local Government Act (2020), passed by the Victorian government in March, requires each council to adopt and apply governance rules that describe the way they will conduct council meetings and make decisions by September 1. Local Government Victoria says the aim is to improve democracy, accountability and service delivery.
At its meeting on Wednesday, councillors agreed to adopt the rules prepared by council staff, after receiving no public feedback during a recent consultation period.
The governance rules adopted today also set out West Wimmera Shire Council's conflict of interest and election period policies.
The latter of these is set to be used at the Local Government Elections in October. Included in this is a commitment not to make major policy decisions in the 32 days before an election.
These include employing or terminating a chief executive, changes to strategic objectives or strategies in the Council Plan and entering into a contract greater than $100,000 or one per cent of rate revenue in value.
READ THE RULES BELOW
Three hours earlier, the councillors briefly met to consider feedback received on the governance rules during the four-week public consultation period, which ended on August 13. It received no submissions, and the special meeting lasted nine minutes.
Cr Tom Houlihan did not attend the meeting, and was not listed as an apology.
READ MORE:
Rate relief reminder
Earlier this week, Cr Meyer said the council was offering a relief on rates and charges to businesses and individuals struggling financially as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rate notices are now being distributed to residents for the 2020-2021 financial year.
Overall, there has been a two per cent rate increase in West Wimmera Shire for general and municipal charges.
Payment plans, interest relief and deferment options have been put in place by the council to help people pay their rate and municipal charges.
The measures are part of the council's COVID-19 Hardship Policy.
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Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
