Proposed changes to Governance Rules
Feedback closes on Monday 13 May 2024.
Elections for Victorian councils will be held on 26 October 2024.
In the lead up to the election, we follow a special policy, known as the Election Period Policy.
This policy helps ensure that Council business is conducted in a manner that will not influence the outcome of the election. It also contains important information for members of the public considering becoming candidates in the Council election.
Key aspects of the Election Period Policy include that:
- Council can’t make certain decisions that would impact a new Council term.
- Council’s resources are used appropriately and don’t provide unfair advantage to current Councillors.
- Council decisions, communications and publications remain politically neutral.
Ahead of the 2024 elections, we have reviewed our Election Period Policy and are proposing substantial changes to it.
These changes would ensure that Council business is conducted in a fair, equitable and transparent manner during the Election Period, and that the obligations of Councillors, Council staff and candidates for election are clear.
As the Election Period Policy forms part of our Governance Rules, we have reviewed those rules as well.
Proposed changes to the Governance Rules are summarised below. Click on the buttons for more information and compare the changes against the existing Governance Rules which can be found in Important Links at the right of this page.
Chapter 2 – Procedure for Council Meetings
Rule 10 | Election of Mayor Changes made where there is no absolute majority the process to eliminate will include a further vote prior to final determination by lot. (Noting that a lot may still be required in certain circumstances) |
Rule 16 | Notice of meeting Reference to publishing notice of Council meeting in a newspaper has been removed from sub-rule 16.3(b) as this is no longer practice. |
Rule 22 | Agenda and Order of Business Removal of Order of Business at sub-rule 22.2 to allow flexibility of meeting structure without requiring an update of the Governance Rules. |
Rule 26 | Notice of Motion Removal of sub-rule 26.5, which stipulated that Notices of Motion must be considered in the order received. |
Rule 30 | Right of Reply Removal of the words ‘including an amendment’ from sub-rule 30.1, as it conflicts with sub-rule 31.4(e) where the current practice provides that the mover of an amendment does not have a right of reply. |
Rule 37 | Separation of motions Wording added to outline that ‘voting in parts is not applicable for Rescission Motions’. |
Division 8 | Presentation Renamed to ‘Public submissions’ to clarify all forms of public participation. |
Rule 57 | Public presentations Renamed to ‘Request to speak’ this provides better clarity to members of the public when addressing Council. Inclusion of guidelines for ‘Request to speak’ at 57.7. |
Rule 59 | Petitions References to ‘joint letters’ has been removed as the rules for petitions and joint letters are the same. Wording at sub-rule 59.3(b) clarified to ensure that petitions contain a specific request for action. Sub-rule 59.3(d) added to ensure petition request is within duties, functions and powers of Council. |
Rule 64 | Voting procedure New specifications at sub-rule 64.2 regarding voting procedure, including the recording of names of Councillors voting in the affirmative and negative. |
Chapter 6 – Election Period Policy
- Inclusion of definitions and key terms table
- Council decisions
- Prohibited decisions section added.
- Prescriptive rules added for Council meetings held during the Election Period.
- Council resources
- Additional section clarifying access to resources for normal Councillor duties.
- Public consultation
- Additional paragraph clarifying consultation required under Planning and Environment Act 1987 and section 223 of the Local Government Act 1989.
- Council publications and media
- Permitted publications have been specified.
- New sections added outlining appropriate use of Council media services.
- Events
- Additional guidance to clarify operation and publicity of Council and external events.
- Clarification for Mayor and/or Councillor/s in relation to attendance at events.
- Campaign publicity
- Rules for election signage have been added.
- Inclusion of prohibited campaigning on municipal land or roads.
- Inclusion of appropriate use of ‘Councillor’ title.
- Assistance to candidates
- Outline of access to information.
- Section added for public transparency of information requested and provided.
- Policy administration
- New section added.
Learn more
- Read our FAQs
- Download our Draft Governance Rules
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