Council endorses revised Information Guide and DRAFT Internal Reporting Policy

28 Feb 2018 7:57 PM -

Leeton Shire Council endorsed its DRAFT Internal Reporting Policy to go on public exhibition from Friday 2^nd March until Thursday 29^th March at its February Ordinary Council Meeting.

Under Section 6D of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 1994, public authorities such as councils are required to have policies and procedures for receiving, assessing and dealing with public interest disclosure reports about wrongdoing.

The DRAFT Internal Reporting Policy has been updated to reflect the current organisational structure and the specific roles identified within the document.

Director Corporate and Community Craig Bennett said that Council was committed to high standards of ethical and accountable conduct and would not tolerate any form of wrongdoing.

“The policy clearly sets out who you can report wrongdoing to in Leeton Council, what can be reported and how reports of wrongdoing will be dealt with by Council,”

Mayor Cr Paul Maytom said the key focus of the policy was to ensure Leeton Council’s commitment to creating an environment where council officials and officers will freely report any serious wrongdoings without fear of reprisal.

“Council officials or officers who come forward and report wrongdoing are helping to promote integrity, accountability and good management within the council,” he said.

Public submissions will be invited until Wednesday 11^th April either by hardcopy to the Leeton Shire Council Administration Office or via Council’s Have Your Say Leeton community engagement website https://haveyoursay.leeton.nsw.gov.au/

Council also adopted its revised Information Guide (formerly known as its Publication Guide) at the February Ordinary Meeting.

The Information Guide provides a summary of what Council does, how it does it, and the type of information/functions it holds and how those functions affect members of the public. The main changes again relate to updating the staff structure at Leeton Shire Council.

The Information Guide does not require public consultation and has been checked by the Information and Privacy Commissioner.