Code of Conduct

The Willoughby City Council Code of Conduct 2019 (the Code) was endorsed by Council in June 2019 after consultation was conducted with the community and Councillors. The Code incorporates the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW 2018 and is supplemented by provisions which were included in response to this process.

In August 2020, the Office of Local Government (OLG) advised via 20-32 Amendments to the Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW and Procedures Circular that the Procedures for the Administration of the Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW 2020 (the Procedures) had been amended in response to a decision of the Supreme Court. In addition, amendments had been made to the Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW (the Model Code of Conduct). The new Procedures and Model Code of Conduct had been prescribed under the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 and were to take effect immediately and Council was therefore required to adopt a Code of Conduct and Procedures based on the prescribed Procedures and Model Code of Conduct. 

At the 14 September Council meeting, Council adopted a new Code of Conduct 2020 to include the following changes:

• Remove as a breach, failure to comply with a council resolution requiring action in relation to a code of conduct breach (because it is now redundant).
• Update the language used to describe the various heads of discrimination in clause 3.6 to reflect more contemporary standards.
• Include in the definition of council committee and council committee members, members of audit, risk and improvement committees (ARICs) in anticipation of the commencement of the requirement for all councils to appoint an ARIC following the next local government elections.

Amendments have also been made to the gifts and benefits provisions of the Model Code of Conduct in response to feedback from some councils. The amendments:

• Lift the $50 cap on the value of gifts that may be accepted to $100 clarify that items with a value of $10 or less are not 'gifts or benefits' for the purposes of the Model Code of Conduct and do not need to be disclosed.
• Clarify that benefits and facilities provided by councils (as opposed to third parties) to staff and Councillors are not 'gifts or benefits' for the purposes of the Model Code of Conduct.
• Remove the cap on the value of meals and refreshments that may be accepted by council officials in conjunction with the performance of their official duties.

Council reaffirmed the Willoughby City Council Code of Conduct 2020 at its meeting on 28 November 2022.