Amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 made by the Local Government Amendment (Councillor Misconduct and Poor Performance) Act 2015 commenced on 13 November 2015.

The Government intends that the Impounding Act 1993 be amended by the Impounding Amendment (Unattended Boat Trailers) Act 2015 from 1 October 2016. This will enable councils and other impounding authorities that ‘opt in’ to take impounding action against boat trailers parked for more than 28 days.

What’s new or changing The NSW Ombudsman has advised that some councils are restricting or severing residential tenants’ water supply to pursue outstanding water charges owed by landowners, whether in accordance with or contrary to the council’s existing debt recovery...

What’s new or changing Councils are reminded of GIPA Guideline 1 - Local Councils on the disclosure of information (returns disclosing the interest of councillors and designated persons) (Guideline 1). What this will mean for your council This guideline was issued by...

What’s new or changing The NSW Building Professionals Board has received complaints that some councils are imposing fees and charges for the lodgement of Part 4A certificates and complying development certificates in excess of the $36.00 statutory limit. Councils are...

The Companion Animals Amendment (Registration Fees) Regulation 2015 commenced on 29 October 2015. For dogs and cats sold by eligible pounds or shelters that are desexed at the time of registration, the fee payable is 50% of the fee for a desexed animal referred to in clause 17(1)(a) of the Companion Animals Regulation 2008. This discount also applies to animals transferred from eligible pounds or shelters to a rescue organisation for rehoming. An eligible pound or shelter includes a NSW council pound, the Animal Welfare League NSW, the Cat Protection Society of NSW Inc. and the RSPCA NSW.

The NSW Government has released the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) Assessment of Council Fit for the Future Proposals report. There will be a final 30-day consultation opportunity to inform the Government’s position on local government reform and respond to the IPART findings. A Stronger Communities Fund has been announced for merging councils.

The deadline for completion of the inventory survey, which was distributed to councils via Regional Emergency Management Officers in late August 2015, has been extended to 30 October 2015.

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. The Model Code of Conduct Complaints 2015 collection form has been updated in response to feedback from the sector and to align reporting with the Your Council (previously Comparatives) publication.

The Minister for Local Government, the Hon Paul Toole MP, has commissioned an independent review of backyard swimming pool barrier requirements. The Review is being undertaken by Mr Michael Lambert. The review aims to simplify the regulatory framework and encourage greater barrier compliance in order to help reduce child drowning deaths and near drowning injuries.