Extraordinary Meeting of Council
Tuesday, 03 October 2017
THE HI LLS SHIRE C OUNCI L
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 3 OCTOBER, 2017
ITEM SUBJECT PAGE
ITEM-1 OATH AND AFFIRMATION OF OFFICE 3
ITEM-2 MAYORAL MINUTE NO. 12/2017 - VISION AND PRIORITIES
6
ITEM-3 ELECTION OF DEPUTY MAYOR 7
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 3 OCTOBER, 2017
PAGE 3 ITEM-1 OATH AND AFFIRMATION OF OFFICE
DOC INFO
THEME: Proactive Leadership
OUTCOME: 3 Sound governance based on transparency and accountability.
STRATEGY: 3.1 Ensure Council is accountable to the community and meets legislative requirements and support Council’s elected representatives for their role in the community.
MEETING DATE: 3 OCTOBER 2017
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING
GROUP: GENERAL MANAGER
AUTHOR: SENIOR COORDINATOR - GOVERNANCE ROBYN WINN
RESPONSIBLE OFFICER: GENERAL MANAGER MICHAEL EDGAR
REPORT
Although since 1993, The Hills Shire elected members have been provided the opportunity to undertake an oath or affirmation, in accordance with Section 233A the Local Government Act 1993, Councillors (including Mayors) are now required to take an oath or affirmation of office.
The prescribed words of the oath and affirmation are contained in attachment 1.
Elected members must take an oath of office or make an affirmation of office at or before the first meeting of the Council after the Councillors and Mayor is elected.
The oath or affirmation may be taken or made before the General Manager of the Council, an Australian Legal Practitioner or a Justice of the Peace
An elected member who fails, without a reasonable excuse, to take the oath of office or make an affirmation of office is not entitled to attend a meeting as a Councillor/Mayor (other than the first meeting of the council after the Councillor/Mayor is elected to the office or a meeting at which the Councillor/Mayor takes the oath or makes the affirmation) until the Councillor/Mayor has taken the oath or made the affirmation.
IMPACTS Financial
This matter has no direct financial impact upon Council's adopted budget or forward estimates.
The Hills Future - Community Strategic Plan
The Oath/Affirmation of Office contributes to the resilient leadership and government of The Hills Shire.
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 3 OCTOBER, 2017
RECOMMENDATION
All Councillors take the Oath or Affirmation of Office.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Oath and Affirmation of Office wording (1 page)
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 3 OCTOBER, 2017
PAGE 5
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 3 OCTOBER, 2017
ITEM-2 MAYORAL MINUTE NO. 12/2017 - VISION AND PRIORITIES
DOC INFO
TO BE TABLED AT THE MEETING
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 3 OCTOBER, 2017
PAGE 7 ITEM-3 ELECTION OF DEPUTY MAYOR
DOC INFO
THEME: Proactive Leadership
OUTCOME: 3 Sound governance based on transparency and accountability.
STRATEGY: 3.1 Ensure Council is accountable to the community and meets legislative requirements and support Council’s elected representatives for their role in the community.
MEETING DATE: 3 OCTOBER 2017
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING
GROUP: GENERAL MANAGER
AUTHOR: SENIOR COORDINATOR - GOVERNANCE ROBYN WINN
RESPONSIBLE OFFICER: GENERAL MANAGER MICHAEL EDGAR
REPORT
Section 231 of the Local Government Act 1993 provides that Council may elect one of its members to act as Deputy Mayor either for the Mayoral term or for a shorter term.
The Deputy Mayor may exercise any function of the Mayor at the request of the Mayor or if the Mayor is prevented by illness, absence or otherwise from exercising the function or if there is a casual vacancy in the office of Mayor.
Furthermore, the councillors may elect a person from among their number to act as Deputy Mayor if the Deputy Mayor is prevented by illness, absence or otherwise from exercising a function under this section, or if no Deputy Mayor has been elected.
The method of election is set out in the Local Government (General) Regulation, 2005 – Schedule 7.
Nominations for the office of Deputy Mayor are required to be in writing and signed by two or more Councillors, one of whom may be the nominee. The nomination is not valid unless the nominee has indicated consent to the nomination in writing. The nomination is to be delivered or sent to the Returning Officer who is the General Manager. It may be handed to the Returning Officer at the meeting.
Nomination Forms have been sent to Councillors under separate cover and will also be available at the meeting.
The Returning Officer is to announce the names of the nominees at the Council Meeting at which the election is to be held.
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 3 OCTOBER, 2017
If only one Councillor is nominated, that Councillor is elected.
If more than one Councillor is nominated, the Council is to resolve whether the election is to proceed by preferential ballot, by ordinary ballot or by open voting. The preferential and ordinary ballots are defined to be secret ballots and open voting by show of hands.
IMPACTS Financial
This matter has no direct financial impact upon Council's adopted budget or forward estimates.
The Hills Future - Community Strategic Plan
The election of the Deputy Mayor contributes to the proactive leadership and governance of the Hills Shire.
RECOMMENDATION
(Each Recommendation to be moved separately)
1. In accordance with Section 231(2), Council determine that a Deputy Mayor be elected for the period of one (1) year.
2. Council determine the method of election to apply for the election of the Deputy Mayor.
3. Council elect one of its members as Deputy Mayor for the period of one (1) year.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Nomination forms distributed under separate cover.
