Maintain the required financial management system. Each local government must establish a system that ensures regard to sound contracting principles (value for money, open competition, development of local business, environmental protection, ethical behaviour) when entering contracts for supply of goods or services or disposal of assets (s 104(1)(a)). The system must include a corporate plan incorporating community engagement, a long-term asset management plan, a long-term financial forecast, an annual budget including a revenue statement, an annual operational plan, and various financial accountability documents and policies.
Adopt meeting procedures. Each local government must adopt either the model procedures made by the department's chief executive or its own procedures that are not inconsistent with them (s 150G). The procedures must address how the chairperson deals with unsuitable meeting conduct, how councillors deal with the chairperson's unsuitable conduct, and how suspected conduct breaches referred by the assessor are handled.
Adopt an investigation policy. If the local government will deal with conduct breaches referred by the assessor, it must adopt an investigation policy by resolution (s 150AE). The policy must include procedures for investigation, natural justice requirements, reporting obligations, and processes for notifying councillors and complainants. It must be published on the council's website.
Establish a councillor conduct register. Each local government must keep an up-to-date register recording orders about unsuitable meeting conduct, decisions about conduct breaches, and conduct tribunal outcomes (s 150DX). The register must be published on the council's website and available for public inspection at the public office. The councillor's name may be included only if the decision related to unsuitable meeting conduct, the council or conduct tribunal found the councillor engaged in a conduct breach or misconduct, or the councillor agrees.
Keep registers of interests and delegations. Regulations under s 270(2)(d) require registers of interests for councillors, councillor advisors and related persons. Councillors must inform the CEO of interests at the start of their term (s 201A), correct the register when interests change (s 201B), and provide annual updates (s 201C). The chief executive officer must establish and maintain a register of delegations (s 260).
Comply with conflict of interest obligations. Councillors must proactively identify conflicts. For prescribed conflicts, the councillor must not participate, must disclose (including particulars such as value of gifts or contracts), and must leave the meeting. For declarable conflicts, the councillor must disclose and then comply with the decision of eligible councillors about whether they may participate. The council must ensure minutes record the name of the councillor, particulars of the conflict, and the votes of eligible councillors (s 150FA).
Ensure proper local law making. Before making a local law, the local government must consult with relevant government entities about the overall State interest (s 29A). The local law must be published in the gazette and on the council's website within one month of the resolution (s 29B). A copy must be given to the Minister within 14 days of gazettal. Anti-competitive provisions require compliance with prescribed review procedures (s 38).
Maintain roads register and map. Each local government must prepare and keep up-to-date a map of every road including private roads, and a register showing the category and level of every road (s 74). The public may inspect these at the public office.
Conduct public benefit assessments. For new significant business activities conducted in competition with the private sector, the council must conduct a public benefit assessment within the financial year the activity is first identified in the annual report (s 46). If the council decides not to apply competitive neutrality, it must conduct another assessment within three years.
Comply with caretaker period restrictions. During the caretaker period (from public notice of election to its conclusion), the council must not make major policy decisions unless the Minister approves in exceptional circumstances or for disaster recovery (ss 90B, 90BA, 90BB). The council and its controlled entities must not publish or distribute election material (s 90D). A major policy decision made without approval is invalid, and any related contract is void (s 90C).