Banyule City Council A Summary of Our Best Value Performance
6.8 Provide effective support to enable good governance and accountable leadership Council continued to prepare monthly reports for Senior Management providing information on the status of a Council resolution and the actions undertaken in relation to the resolution. This helps Senior Management monitor the actions undertaken and the actions that still require follow-up. A new report was developed and is reported to Council quarterly on Councillor motions. The report includes the status of the Council resolution and the progress of the actions undertaken in relation to the resolution. This keeps Councillors and members of the public informed on progress of key items. A new process has been introduced at Council meetings to capture questions arising from the Council Meeting Public forum (the informal question time before the meeting). This enables questions and queries that cannot be answered at the meeting to be documented. Once a month Councillors are updated on the progress of such questions that were taken on notice from the Council meeting. Rollout of hand-held technology for Councillors has reduced the requirement for hardcopies of Agendas, Minutes and briefing notes. This ensures Councillors have access to the most up to date information. On Ordinary Agendas and Minutes alone we have saved 29,886 pages of paper. Council successfully managed the 2012 Council Election to ensure open and transparent processes and encourage a broad range of candidates and increased level of community participation in the deciding of the elected Council. Further information related to the Council Election and governance aspects related to the Council is outlined in the highlights listed for Objective 5 ‘Participation, Community involvement in community life’, in key direction 5.1: - Plan and engage with our community. This includes details related to the following highlights: • I mplementation of post-election activities, including statutory requirements and induction of Councillors • Reviewed and improved governance systems, processes, training and education • Reviewed The Election Caretaker Guidelines • Preparation and Planning for the General Election in October 2012 • Conducted and supervised the election contract • Developed an Induction Program for Councillors • Developed Expanded Governance Practice notes. Council commenced the review of the General Local Law to improve the amenity and liveability at Banyule. Initial planning was conducted, and Internal Steering Committee is being established and internal consultation has commenced. The project will continue in 2013-2014.
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