ABOUT COUNCIL - Parramatta City Council - NSW Government

CORPORATE GOVERNANCECODE OF CONDUCTCouncil’s Code of Conduct sets standards of behaviour forthe organisation that demonstrate our values and adoptedprinciples. It provides guidance to both Councillors andstaff in understanding the ethical problems that may beencountered in the organisation. All managers and staff havereceived training in the Code of Conduct, with such trainingand other policies an integral component of our new staffinduction program.The Code of Conduct includes a comprehensive set ofstandards of behaviour and a framework to deal withbreaches of those standards. In establishing this framework,Council sought and appointed representatives to form aConduct Review Panel to conduct enquiries into seriousbreaches of the Code by Councillors or the Chief ExecutiveOfficer.The three individuals who form the Conduct Review Panelwere appointed by Council resolution at the 15 June 2010Council meeting. During the 2010/11 financial year, fivecomplaints were formally made under the Code of Conduct,with two being referred to a Conduct Reviewer for formalinvestigation. Of these two, one matter is on-going while forthe other a finding was made that there had been no breachof the Code of Conduct.Two complaints resulted in a finding that the conduct allegeddid not amount to a breach of the Code while one other wasinternally investigated, with the outcome that no breach hadoccurred.FRAUD AND CORRUPTION PREVENTIONCouncil continued to progress its Fraud and CorruptionPrevention Strategy, adopting a Fraud and CorruptionPrevention Policy to provide guidance and support to Councilofficers in understanding their obligations to report andactively seek to prevent instances of fraud and corruptconduct.SERVICE AUDIT AND REVIEWThe Service Audit and Review unit is an integral part ofCouncil’s Corporate Governance framework and includesCouncil’s internal audit function.The unit provides an independent appraisal of theorganisation’s compliance and performance againstappropriate standards and legislation. It also provides an earlywarning of weaknesses in, or undesirable departures from, theorganisation’s internal control and risk management systems.During the year, Council’s governance framework was alsoimproved through policy reviews and development, andmanagement of statutory information provisions under LocalGovernment, Freedom of Information and Privacy legislation.POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATIONService Audit and Review manages a number of policies thatsupport Council’s governance responsibilities and are subjectto regular review including:• Code of Conduct and Guidelines• Policy for Interaction Between Councillors and Staff• Whistleblowers Protection Policy• Customer Compliments and Complaints Policy• Access to Information Policy.The unit is also responsible for the maintenance of Council’spolicy register. Council’s policies are supported by a number ofother governance registers maintained by the unit covering:• delegations• pecuniary interests returns• gifts and benefits• secondary employment• freedom of information.OTHER AUDITS AND REVIEWSOther significant tasks completed as part of the 2010/11Service Audit and Review program included:• review of cash controls in the operation of Council’s carparking stations• review of expenditure controls in the use of corporatecredit cards• review of process controls over determination of salarybasis for casual recruits• review of security controls in Council’s informationtechnology systems• review of controls in the management of taxi dockets• review of controls in the procurement process andcompliance with legislative requirements• review of controls in the management of staffattendance and absences• review of process controls in the generation of rates• review of Council’s usage and control of access to theRTA DRIVES system• review of controls in the management of employeerecruitment48 PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL - ANNUAL REPORT 2010/11