16-43 – Responsible Pet Ownership Grants Program – Successful Applicants in Year Three
Applications for year three of the Responsible Pet Ownership Grants Program have now been assessed and 35 projects with a total project value of $302,591 will receive grant funding.
Starting in 2014-15, the NSW Government committed $900,000 over three years to the Grants Program.
16-42 – Review of the Model Code of Conduct and Procedures for the Administration of the Model Code of Conduct
The recent amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act) will see the pecuniary interest provisions of the Act and the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 incorporated into the Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW (the Model Code).
16-41 – Annual Code of Conduct Complaints Reporting
Under the Model Code of Conduct Procedures, each council’s complaints coordinator must report annually on a range of complaint statistics to their council and to the Office of Local Government within 3 months of the end of September.
16-40 – 2016 local government elections – survey of candidates and councillors
Councils are required to respond to this information request under section 429 of the Local Government Act 1993.Councils can use the Statistical Information Sheets that candidates completed prior to the elections to complete the survey. Councils are required to retain these sheets under clause 391(6) of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005.
16-39 – 2016 edition of the Councillor Handbook
The Office of Local Government has issued an updated edition of the Councillor Handbook.
The Councillor Handbook has been updated to reflect developments over the last four years and recent amendments to the Local Government Act 1993.
16-38 – 2016 “Hit the Ground Running” Councillor Workshops for councils with elections in September and October 2016 – promotional flyer and online registrations
A promotional flyer has been produced to provide information to General Managers and Councillors on the upcoming “Hit the Ground Running” Councillor Workshops.
Online registrations are now open for General Managers to enrol themselves and their Councillors to attend one of the workshops.
16-37 Local authority mandatory swimming pool inspection program reminder
Local authorities are required to develop and adopt a program for the inspection of swimming pools in their areas to ensure compliance with the requirements of section 22B of the Swimming Pools Act 1992 (the Act).
16-36 – Financial reporting obligations – AASB 124 Related party disclosures
As advised during the Code of Accounting Practice and Financial Reporting (Code) Update 24 consultation process, the Australian Accounting Standards Board has determined that, from 1 July 2016, AASB 124 related party disclosures will apply to government entities, including local governments. In the annual financial statements for 2016-17, councils must disclose related party relationships, transactions and outstanding balances, including commitments.
16-35 – More Phase 1 amendments to the Local Government Act commenced by proclamation
As notified in Circular 16-30, the NSW Parliament passed amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 (the LGA) in the Local Government Amendment (Governance and Planning) Act 2016. These reforms are known as the Phase 1 amendments.
16-34 – $5 million NSW Boating Now grant program open for boat trailer parking solutions
On 6 September 2016, Transport for NSW (TFNSW) announced that a $5 million Boat Trailer Storage Grants Program is available under the NSW Boating Now program to support the delivery of alternative viable storage facilities and solutions for boat trailers.