CounCilS gOVernanCe - Shire of Yarra Ranges

Yarra Ranges Council Annual Report 2011– 2012
17
The newly
redeveloped
Healesville
Memorial Hall
Council s
governance

18 Council’s governance
Council’s governance
Council is committed to good governance and has
a series of policies and protocols that outline our
intention and approach and provide the framework
for decision making.
Yarra Ranges Shire Council is constituted under the
Local Government Act 1989 to provide democratic
local government to the Yarra Ranges community.
The purposes and objectives of Council, as well as
the functions and powers of a local government,
are also defined in the Act.
Making decisions
Council’s formal decision making processes are conducted
through public Council meetings which are held on the
second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Unlike many
local authorities, Yarra Ranges Council does not constitute
a number of Special Committees to assist its decision
making, preferring instead to conduct all decision making
through the twice monthly public meeting. Council also
has extensive delegations in place to the Chief Executive
Officer and key council staff. These delegations are
exercised in accordance with adopted Council policies
and through an instrument of delegation.
Council adopted a number of significant policies,
strategies and plans during the 2011–12 year including:
Competition Complaints Policy
Councillor Expenditure and Donation Policy
Urgent Business Guidelines
Library Strategy and Action Plan
Flora and Fauna Plan
Council Plan
Procurement Policy.
Lilydale
The Audit and Risk Management Committee provides
assurance to Council around probity and effective
financial management, risk management and corporate
governance. While the Committee has no formal decision
making powers, they provide valued, independent advice
to Council. The Charter of the Audit and Risk Management
Committee was reviewed and approved by Council in
2011–12 and the Committee met four times to consider
issues within its remit. The Committee is comprised of
three independent members and two Councillor members
and has an independent Chair. Further details on the
Audit and Risk Management Committee are outlined
on page 93 of this report.
Our Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) is made up of the
CEO and four directors. The SLT makes decisions within
their delegation about significant issues that have a cross
organisational impact. They also consider important
reports prior to submission to Council and oversee the
implementation of Council adopted strategies and policies.
Further details on the Strategic Leadership Team are
outlined on pages 75 to 77 of this report.
Yarra Glen
Coldstream
Healesville
Woori Yallock
Warburton
Powelltown
Upwey
Belgrave
Monbulk

Yarra Ranges Council Annual Report 2011– 2012
19
COUNCILLORS
Yarra Ranges Council has nine
Councillors who are elected by
residents to govern the municipality.
The municipality is divided into nine
Wards and one Councillor is elected
to represent each Ward.
The Mayor of Yarra Ranges is chosen
each year in December by the
Councillors for a twelve month term.
Yarra Ranges’ Councillors, for the fouryear
period until the Local Government
elections in October 2012, are listed on
the following pages.
Cr Graham Warren, Mayor
Chandler
Ward
First elected: 2005
Re-elected: 2008
Telephone: 9735 3417
g.warren@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
Chandler Ward covers:
Silvan, Kalorama, Seville, Wandin,
Monbulk and Macclesfield

20 Your Councillors
RYRIE
Ward
WALLING
Ward
Cr Jeanette McRae, Deputy Mayor
First elected: 2005
Re-elected: 2008
Telephone: 5962 3847
j.mcrae@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
Ryrie Ward covers:
Badger Creek, Chum Creek, Coldstream, Dixons Creek,
Gruyere, Healesville, Steels Creek, Tarrawarra, Toolangi
(part), Yarra Glen and Yering
Cr Len Cox
First elected: Shire of Lillydale 1982
and Yarra Ranges Council 1997
Re-elected: 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008
Telephone: 9761 9356
l.cox@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
Walling Ward covers:
Kilsyth, Mooroolbark (part) and Montrose
LYSTER
Ward
CHIRNSIDE
Ward
Cr Samantha Dunn
First elected: 2005
Re-elected: 2008
Telephone: 9752 6869
s.dunn@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
Lyster Ward covers:
Belgrave, Belgrave Heights, Belgrave South, Emerald
(part) Kallista, Lysterfield, Menzies Creek, Monbulk
(part) Narre Warren East, Selby, Sherbrooke, Tecoma,
and The Patch
Cr Richard Higgins
First elected: 2008
Telephone: 9727 3093
r.higgins@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
Chirnside Ward covers:
Chirnside Park and Mooroolbark (part)

Yarra Ranges Council Annual Report 2011– 2012
21
BILLANOOK
Ward
STREETON
Ward
Cr Tim Heenan
First elected: 2005
Re-elected: 2008
Telephone: 9737 1264
t.heenan@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
Billanook Ward covers:
Lilydale (part), Mt Evelyn and Wandin North
Cr Noel Cliff
First elected: Shire of Sherbrooke 1991 and Yarra
Ranges Council 2003
Re-elected: 2005, 2008
Telephone: 5968 9853
n.cliff@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
Streeton Ward covers:
Mt Dandenong, Montrose, Olinda, Sassafras, Tremont,
Ferny Creek, Tecoma, Upwey, Monbulk (part), Emerald
(part) and Upper Ferntree Gully (part)
O’SHANNASSY
Ward
MELBA
Ward
Cr Chris Templer
First elected: 2008
Telephone: 9727 5994
c.templer@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
O’Shannassy Ward covers:
Woori Yallock, Launching Place, Don Valley, Millgrove,
Hoddles Creek, Gladysdale, Powelltown, Yarra Junction,
Wesburn, Warburton, McMahons Creek, Reefton,
Yellingbo, Gilderoy, Three Bridges and St Clair
Cr Terry Avery
First elected: 2005
Re-elected: 2008
Telephone: 9727 0347
t.avery@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
Melba Ward covers:
Lilydale (part) and Mooroolbark (part)

22 Council’s governance
Code of Conduct
In October 2009 Council adopted a Code of Conduct
to assist Councillors to maintain the highest levels of
integrity and ethical behaviour. Councillors recognise,
accept and have committed to the following primary
principles of conduct:
to act with integrity
to impartially exercise their responsibilities in the
interests of the community
to not improperly seek to confer an advantage
or disadvantage on any person.
Following adoption of the code, all Councillors have
endorsed and signed a copy as an expression of their
commitment to uphold and abide by it. A full copy of
the Yarra Ranges Code of Conduct is available on
request or at www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au.
Conflict of interest
Council remains committed to maintaining legislative
compliance in respect of Conflict Of Interest provisions
contained within the Local Government Act (1989).
Our Councillors recognise the importance of maintaining
the highest levels of integrity and ethical behaviour.
Disclosure forms are provided to Councillors and a record
of conflict of interest disclosures is maintained. Conflicts
may relate to direct or indirect personal or private interests
that compromise the ability to act in the public interest.
The table below provides a summary of the conflict
of interest disclosures made by Councillors during the
2011–12 year.
Conflict of interest
Number of declarations
Direct interest 5
Indirect financial interest 11
Conflicting personal interest 3
Total 19
Meetings of Council
Council conducts open public meetings on the second
and fourth Tuesday of each month. Members of the
community are welcome to attend these meetings and
observe from the gallery. Council meetings also provide
the opportunity for community members to submit a
question to the Council, make a submission or speak
to an item. Between July 2011 and June 2012 we held:
22 ordinary Council meetings
one special Council meeting.
The following table provides a summary of Councillor
attendance at Council meetings for the 2011–12
financial year.
Councillor
Attendance at
Council meetings
Cr Graham Warren 21
Cr Jeanette McRae 22
Cr Noel Cliff 21
Cr Len Cox 20
Cr Samantha Dunn 22
Cr Tim Heenan 22
Cr Richard Higgins 22
Cr Chris Templer 21
Cr Terry Avery 23
Representation
Councillors represent the interests of our communities,
through direct contact with residents, representation
on local interest groups and involvement in broader
scale agency and government committees. In addition
to participation in Council meetings and engagement in
direct community and individual consultation, Councillors
are appointed to a variety of bodies to represent the
various interests of Yarra Ranges Council and its people.

Yarra Ranges Council Annual Report 2011– 2012
23
Listed below are the appointments made for 2011–12.
Committee
Councillor/s
Committee
Councillor/s
Agribusiness Yarra Valley
Cr Warren
Cr McRae
Mooroolbark Umbrella Group
Cr Avery
Cr Higgins
Audit and Risk Management Committee
Belgrave Region Action Group
Cr Warren
Cr McRae
Cr Dunn
Mooroolbark Traders Group
Mt Evelyn Environment Protection and
Progress Association (MEEPPA)
Cr Avery
Cr Heenan
Belgrave South and Heights Village Group
Birdsland Environment Education Centre
Advisory Committee
Burrinja Performing Arts Centre
Chirnside Park Township Group
Coldstream Community Action Group
Cr Dunn
Cr Dunn
Cr Cliff
Cr Dunn
Cr Higgins
Cr McRae
Mt Evelyn Township Improvement
Committee (METIC)
Municipal Association of Victoria
Municipal Emergency Management
Committee
Museum of Lillydale Trust
Cr Heenan
Cr Warren
Cr McRae
Cr Cliff
Cr Dunn
Cr Cox
Cr Avery
Community 3777
Cr McRae
Olinda Action Group
Cr Cliff
Community Safety Committee
Dixons Creek Community Group
Cr Avery
Cr Higgins
Cr McRae
Positive Ageing Reference Group
Representatives of the Community of Kilsyth
(ROCK)
Cr Avery
Cr Cox
Eastern Metropolitan Region Affordable
Housing Alliance
Eastern Regional Libraries Corporation
Eastern Transport Coalition
Cr Heenan
Cr Avery
Cr Dunn
Cr Cox
Cr Dunn
Cr Avery
Ridge Top Community Group
Road Wise - Yarra Ranges
Seville Township Group
Sportsfields Management Committee
Cr Cliff
Cr Avery
Cr Higgins
Cr Warren
Cr Warren
Fire Management Committee
Graffiti Advisory Group
Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee
Interface Councils
Karwarra Garden Advisory Committee
L2P Steering Committee
MAV Environment Advisory Group
Metropolitan Waste Management Group
Cr Cliff
Cr Dunn
Cr Avery
Cr Dunn
Cr Higgins
Cr Heenan
Cr Higgins
Cr Warren
Cr Cliff
Cr Heenan
Cr Heenan
Cr Heenan
Tecoma Village Action Group
Upper Yarra Community Environment Park
(ECOSS)
Upper Yarra Community Voice
Upwey Village Township Group
Victorian Local Governance Association
Warburton Advancement League
Woori Yallock Township Action Group
Yarra Glen & District Township Group
Yarra Ranges Environment Advisory
Committee
Cr Dunn
Cr Templer
Cr McRae
Cr Templer
Cr Cliff
Cr McRae
Cr Templer
Cr Templer
Cr McRae
Cr Heenan
Monbulk and District Community
Opportunities Workshop (MADCOW)
Cr Warren
Yarra Ranges Indigenous Advisory Group
Cr McRae
Cr Avery
Montrose Township Group
Cr Cox
Yarra Ranges Regional Marketing Ltd
Cr Cliff

24 The year in Yarra Ranges
The year in
Yarra Ranges
2011
July
Burrinja Cultural Centre, Upwey officially opened.
Mt Evelyn Skate Park officially opened.
August
Wandin East Reserve received a new change facility,
18,000L water tank and sportsfield lighting.
September
Installation of new netball courts with acrylic surface
completed at Yarra Glen Recreation Reserve.
October
Community Safety Road Show held to raise awareness
about safety in Yarra Ranges with a focus on injury and
crime prevention.
The Run Walk Ride community event was held to
celebrate the completion of the Lilydale to Warburton
Rail Trail. 170 people participated.
November
Kiloran Park Pavilion upgrade was completed (Kilsyth).
Inclusion Game On pilot program was launched to
increase participation in sport and recreation clubs.
Be Inspired women in leadership event held
in partnership with Swinburne University.
December
Cr Graham Warren elected as the 16th Mayor
of Yarra Ranges.
McKenzie Reserve playground opened.
Yarra Glen Memorial Hall opened.
The FReeZA Live Entertainment Program event
was held, with 1,250 people engaging with the
program throughout the year.

Yarra Ranges Council Annual Report 2011– 2012
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2012
January
Monbulk Community Reading Room opened at Monbulk
Living and Learning Centre.
Australia Day awards held. Ten awards were given
to community members.
National Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition
commenced at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum,
the only venue in Victoria to hold this event.
February
Suicide Alertness for Everyone safeTALK workshops saw
over 140 people become qualified safeTALK Helpers
between February and May 2012.
Completion of full upgrade of oval surface and installation
of drainage to the Lilydale Recreation Reserve Oval #1
and the Morrison’s Athletics Pitch.
March
Regenerating Lilydale – Projects and Opportunities
for Our Municipal Centre was held with 50 guests from
the property, real estate and development sector.
April
12 Anzac Day Services held at Council venues
across the municipality.
Wandin North Netball project completed.
May
Stage 1 of Sherbrooke Family and Children’s Centre
opened in the presence of the Minister for Early
Childhood Development Wendy Lovell MLC.
Habitat for Humanity forum held.
June
Over 100 women in business attended Eastern Women
on the Go at Yering Station. This mini expo had over 17
exhibitors and local women were given the opportunity
to network and hear from two local business women.