Policies Policy
Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council
DRAFT Policies Policy
Head of Power
Local Government Act 1993
Objective
To prescribe procedures for the establishment, maintenance, publication, amendment, and revoking of policies.
Definitions/Application
Definition
A policy is a statement of the way in which the Council will act in specified circumstances.
Policies provide the framework for Councillors and Council Employees to carry out actions on behalf of Council. They do not relate to one specific action but to a class of actions or situations.
Application
This statement applies to the Council in making Policies, the Chief Executive Officer in maintaining and implementing policies, and to employees in observing and proposing policies.
It applies to all policies made by the Council, whether made before or after the adoption of this policy.
Policy Statement
Making Policies
Policies are made by adopting them at a general meeting of the Council. Before a policy can be adopted it must be provided to each Councillor including the Mayor at least 4 weeks before the meeting at which it is to be adopted.
In an emergency a policy may be adopted with less notice, but it must then be confirmed at the following general meeting.
Unless otherwise specified, a policy comes into effect immediately on adoption.
Register of Policies
The Chief Executive Officer must maintain a register of policies containing each current policy of the Council. This register is open to inspection. Each Policy must be numbered in sequence as it is adopted. The register must contain an index of the policies contained.
The CEO must also maintain a record of all making, amending, and revocation of policies in such a form that the policies applicable at any time in the past can be ascertained.
Website
All policies will be placed on the website.
Amendment/replacement of policy
Council may amend a policy by resolution at any time. The resolution may amend particular words in the policy or may adopt a new policy to replace and revoke an existing policy. Amendments of a policy have the same notice requirements as adoption of a policy.
Revoking Policies
A policy is revoked by a resolution of Council.
Review of Policies
Each Policy made by Council shall be reviewed by Council annually between February and April.
The purpose of the review is to ensure that each policy is still relevant and effective.
The initial review must be carried out by the Chief Executive Officer and a report given to Council of any issues found.
It is the intention that all policies are reviewed by Council at one meeting and Council will pass a resolution confirming them. Councillors should have the normal agenda notice of this review. Council may defer the consideration of some or all of the policies to a subsequent meeting.
