The suite of policies will include, but not be limited to, the: 

• Public Transparency Policy (C81); 

• Councillor Support and Expenditure Policy (C51); 

• Public Participation in Meetings with Council Policy (C65); 

• Councillor Code of Conduct (C14); and 

• Councillor Access to and Request for Information Policy (C66).

The Governance Rules must be adopted by 1 September 2020 under s.60(7) of the Act.

There is a requirement that Council conducts a community engagement process to seek the views of the community on the development of the Proposed Governance Rules. 

A formal s.223 of the Local Government Act 1989 community consultation process will be undertaken, inviting written submissions for the required 28-day advertising period. Community members interested in making a submission regarding the Proposed Governance Rules are encouraged to make a formal written submission addressed to the Chief Executive Officer at submission@southgippsland.vic.gov.au, pursuant to s.223 of the Local Government Act 1989.

These Proposed Governance Rules are divided into the following Chapters: 

Chapter 1 Governance Framework 

Chapter 2 Meeting Procedure for Council Meetings 

Chapter 3 Meeting Procedure for Delegated Committees 

Chapter 4 Meeting Procedure for Community Asset Committees 

Chapter 5 Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest 

Chapter 6 Common Seal 

Chapter 7 Miscellaneous 

Chapter 8 Election Period Policy, including Attachment 1

The new Local Government Act 2020 includes Section 9(2) – Overarching governance principles 

The following are the overarching governance principles: 

a) Council decisions are to be made and actions taken in accordance with the relevant law; 

b) priority is to be given to achieving the best outcomes for the municipal community, including future generations; 

c) the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the municipal district, including mitigation and planning for climate change risks, is to be promoted; 

d) the municipal community is to be engaged in strategic planning and strategic decision making; 

e) innovation and continuous improvement is to be pursued; 

f) collaboration with other Councils and Governments and statutory bodies is to be sought; 

g) the ongoing financial viability of the Council is to be ensured; 

h) regional, state and national plans and policies are to be taken into account in strategic planning and decision making; 

i) the transparency of Council decisions, actions and information is to be ensured. 

Section 9(3) – Overarching supporting principles 

In giving effect to the overarching governance principles, a Council must take into account the following supporting principles: 

a) the community engagement principles; 

b) the public transparency principles; 

c) the strategic planning principles; 

d) the financial management principles; 

e) the service performance principles. 

The following documents adopted or approved by Council: Available on Council’s website at: www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au/info/20004/your_council/97/council_policies: 

▪ Community Engagement Policy
▪ Community Engagement Strategy
▪ Complaint Handling Policy
▪ Councillor Access to and Request for Council Information Policy
▪ Councillor Code of Conduct
▪ Councillor Support and expenditure Policy
▪ Election Period Policy
▪ Live Streaming of Council Meetings Policy
▪ Public Interest Disclosure Guidelines Attachment 2.1.1 Special Council Meeting – 8 July 2020
▪ Public Participation in Meetings with Council Policy
▪ Public Transparency Policy
▪ Sound Recording of Council Meetings
▪ South Gippsland’s Good Governance Framework
▪ Use of Council Term Mayoral