Future Brimbank councillors must declare any form of political affiliation, a draft of a new councillor code of conduct recommends.
Brimbank councillors were sacked by the state government in 2009 following a damning Ombudsman’s report that cited the chronic leaking of confidential information, poor practices and undue outside influence from political parties.
With councillors due to be reinstated at municipal elections in October next year, the draft code lays down strict guidelines against conflicts of interest arising from political affiliations.
Residents have until August 18 to make a submission on the draft code of conduct, which is due to be tabled at tonight’s council meeting at Keilor.
The draft states councillors face up to five years’ jail if they release or disclose confidential council information.
“The community has high expectations of councillors, who they trust as their representatives,” the draft code states.
“To ensure councillors maintain a clear and primary duty to the Brimbank community rather than a political body or other jurisdiction, councillors will avoid conflicts of interest, or the appearance of conflicts of interest, that affiliation with political parties may create.
“Councillors will not use council resources … to prepare or promote a political body or other jurisdiction.”
Councillors must also declare and record any representations they make to a member of Parliament or their staff.
“Councillors must only use council resources for their council duties,” the draft code states.
“Councillors must not release information that they know, or should reasonably know, is confidential information. Confidential information provided to councillors in hard copy must be stored securely … and disposed of appropriately,” the draft states.
Councillors may also make a “reasonable number of non-council- related calls” and make “reasonable personal use of mobile devices, including data” on their council-provided phones and tablets.
“Each councillor will be responsible for determining the personal use to be reimbursed to council,” the draft code states.
The mayor and councillors may spend up to $8000 and $4000, respectively, each year for conferences, professional courses, study tours or training directly related to their roles.
“All interstate and overseas travel by a councillor will require approval by resolution of council at a meeting open to the public,” the draft code recommends.
Training and conferences costing more than $2000 a head will also need specific council approval.
The draft code states the Municipal Association of Victoria will appoint two independent members to a councillor conduct panel if a dispute or allegation of misconduct cannot be resolved by internal council dispute resolution processes.
