Annual Report 2014-15

Statement of Business Ethics
The City has introduced a Statement of Business Ethics to
provide guidance to the City’s contractors, service providers
and suppliers, of the City’s expectations of integrity and
ethical conduct. The City’s key business ethic principles
are: safety, ethics and integrity, governance, openness and
effective communication, value for money and sustainability.
Reporting Misconduct, Corruption
and Fraud
The City is developing a Fraud, Corruption, Bribery and
Misconduct Framework aligned to the Australian Standards
AS8001:2008 Fraud and Corruption Control. Through the
Framework and associated Plan, fraud, corruption and
misconduct control strategies will become an integral part of
the City’s culture, processes, and procedures and will establish
the framework to achieve the following policy objectives:
• Establish an effective fraud control framework;
• Eliminate the occurrence and impact of fraud;
• Communicate the City’s intent and responsibility for fraud
management, together with individual accountability
• Introduce Fraud awareness training to reinforce the
obligations and behaviour expected of staff.
Conflict of Interest
The City’s Conflict of Interest and Gifts and Benefits Policy
and associated management procedure provides clear
direction to staff in managing their interests in accordance
with legislative requirements with the following objectives:
a) ensure that in situations of real, apparent or potential
conflict of interest or interest affecting impartiality,
decisions are made in a manner which upholds the
public interest and facilitates ethical decision-making;
b) establish measures to help manage and resolve conflict
of interest or interests affecting impartiality situations
that could impair either the integrity of the City of
Wanneroo or the public’s perception of its integrity;
c) establish a common understanding of appropriate
conduct expected of all City of Wanneroo employees in
relation to gifts, benefits and hospitality.
The City’s Elected Members are required to comply with the
Local Government Act 1995 and the Local Government (Rules
of Conduct) Regulations 2007. In particular, Regulations 11
and 12 provide for disclosing of interests that may affect
Elected Members’ decision making at meetings and are
required to be disclosed through the City’s formal process.
COMPLIANCE
The Audit and Risk Committee recommends a report to
Council in respect of the City’s Annual Compliance Audit
Return, which is required to be signed by the Mayor and
Chief Executive Officer and lodged with the Department of
Local Government and Communities.
The Audit and Risk Committee receives a report on the six
monthly control self-assessment process for compliance in a
number of areas that are no longer part of the Department
of Local Government and Communities annual audit return.
The Audit and Risk Committee receives a biennial report
from the Internal Auditor on the Chief Executive Officer’s
biennial review of how effective the City’s legislative
compliance system, internal controls and processes are.
COUNCIL MEETINGS
The Council of the City of Wanneroo consists of the
14 Councillors sitting as one body, with the Mayor as
presiding member. Council is the policy and decision making
body for the City and meets every fourth Tuesday evening.
The Chief Executive Officer and the Director from each of
the City’s four Directorates also attend Council Meetings to
assist the Councillors with information as required.
Members of the public are welcome to attend Council
Meetings but are not permitted to take part in Council
debates however they may ask questions during Public
Question Time.
Minutes of the Council Meetings are available to the public
and are published on the City of Wanneroo website in the
week following the Council Meeting.
| ANNUAL REPORT 2014/2015 | CITY OF WANNEROO | GOVERNANCE
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