CounCilS gOVernanCe - Shire of Yarra Ranges

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.