Policy Review (Batch 4)

Community Grants

A new category has been created for Community Arts Grants, recognising the importance of arts to the local Community and their need for Council support from time to time.

An additional Clause (6.6) has also been included to recognise that Council will consider applications for significant anniversaries (eg 50 year celebrations) for sporting clubs, service clubs, churches, schools, local groups and organisations, where there is benefit to the broader Community. These applications will be considered under the Major Grant Category.

Council Facility Hire

Minor updates have been made throughout to improve readability. Clause 6.1.11 (Pungangga Pavilion) has been updated for Council’s recent resolution. Bond arrangements and specific lease conditions have also been amended to bring the Policy up to date with Council’s practices.

Emergency Management

The Policy has been updated to clarify roles and include information about the i-Responda program.

Events

Documentation requirements in Clause 7.5 have been updated to align to Council’s practices.

Fraud and Corruption Prevention

Staff have undertaken a comprehensive review of this Policy and updated clauses to meet legislation requirements and recommendations made through a recent Internal Audit.

Internal Review of Council Decisions

Minor change have been made to legislative references and to improve service delivery.

Library Services

A comprehensive review of this Policy has been undertaken, focussed principally on removing procedural information from the document where appropriate and updating Policy considerations to reflect Council practice.

Physical Activity and Sports

Minor wording updates have been made to improve clarity of requirements.

Playground and Exercise Equipment Development and Maintenance

Minor changes have been made to bring the Policy into line with Council practices and address Community needs.

New Sections for ‘shade’ and ‘lighting’ have been added to Clause 7.5.

Prudential Management

Minor wording updates to improve readability.

Rating

This Policy has been comprehensively reviewed to align to legislation and contemporary practice. Definitions have been updated while valuations policy statements have been reworded to remove annual and site values as they are no longer options available under the Act. The discretionary rebate associated with the Regional Landscape Levy has been removed.

Request for Service and Complaint Handling

An update has been made to the ‘Business Day’ Definition and minor updates to policy statements to reflect current business practice and to provide greater clarity for customers.

Road Verge Development and Maintenance

Minor updates have been made in relation to Clauses 7.1.3 and a new definition for ‘Crossing Place’ has been added.

Social Media

Minor changes have been made throughout the Policy, with specific clauses updated as follows:

• The Introduction has been simplified
• Clauses 8.2.2 and 8.2.3 have been updated, clarifying arrangements for users and Council’s moderation and monitoring approach (clause 8.6 has been deleted through this process)
• Clause 9.4 has been amended as the introductory sentence was superfluous to requirements.

Treasury Management

Minor adjustments have been made throughout the Policy to improve readability and alignment to Council practices. Clause 6.1 has been updated to include consideration of penalties that may apply if Council elects to pay out loans early.

Tree Management

An additional dot point has been added to the aims of the maintenance programs under Clause 7.5.