This page outlines how ratepayers’ requests are handled by the administrative system and provides an indication of the time frame involved.

As the Council’s role is to deal with strategic policy and not operational, day-to-day issues, wherever possible any matter raised by ratepayers is dealt with by staff and not referred to Council.

The Local Government Act 1995 stipulates which matters must be dealt with by Council. However, Council is able to delegate its decision-making role to the Chief Executive Officer for most decisions. The areas that cannot be delegated are:

• Any decision that requires an absolute majority decision of Council.  Examples are the:
• Making or altering a local law;
• Establishing Committees and the appointment of Committee members;
• Adopting the annual budget.
• Accepting a tender over $100,000;
• Appointing the auditor;
• Purchasing or selling any property over $100,000;
• Setting Councillors’ fees;
• Borrowing money;
• Hearing an objection from a person in regard to Council decisions (for example: in respect of a notice issued by Council for the removal of rubbish from private property);
• Any decision that requires approval of the Minister or Governor.

For details of decisions delegated to the Chief Executive Officer please click here.

Examples of subjects generated by ratepayers that are typically dealt with at Council meetings include:

• Applications for building developments that do not comply with the Town Planning Scheme, policies and/or where no objections have been received from adjoining owners;
• Applications for subdivisions of land;
• Applications to demolish buildings;
• Applications for traffic calming devices.

Every matter that is to be considered by Council must appear on an agenda and must have a report prepared by a staff member.

The time frame for a matter to find its way onto a Council meeting agenda depends on the complexity and nature of the issue.  For example when a building development application is received, staff send letters to adjoining neighbours and, of course, this takes time. Therefore a development application may not appear on a Council agenda for several weeks or more.

Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month (except January) and staff write to interested parties following each meeting.

Examples of subjects which are typically handled by staff, not by Council, are:

• Rates queries and objections;
• Objections to parking infringements;
• Requests for tree removals;
• Applications for advertising signs.