Good Governance

The City of Port Phillip is an open and engaging Council

Council operates in an open and transparent manner when making decisions.

We engage our community on key issues of significance by actively seeking input through community reference groups, from broad cross-sections of the community and through community engagement practices that include the use of face-to-face and online mediums.

We encourage community participation and offer opportunities to speak at Council meetings. Confidential reports are kept to a minimum, with every effort made to ensure the majority of decisions are considered in open Council meetings, including tenders and legal matters where possible. We have maintained our commitment to involving people in the process and ensuring decisions are made in the best interests of the whole community.

The City of Port Phillip Governance Rules (PDF 339KB)

1. Nature of Rules
These are the Governance Rules of City of Port Phillip, made in accordance with section 60 of the Local Government Act 2020.
2. Date of Commencement
These Governance Rules commence on 1 September 2020.
3. Contents
These Governance Rules are divided into the following Chapters:

Chapter	Name
Chapter 1	Governance Framework
Chapter 2	Meeting Procedure for Council Meetings
Chapter 3	Meeting Procedure for Delegated Committees
Chapter 4	Meeting Procedure for Community Asset Committees
Chapter 5	Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
Chapter 6	Miscellaneous
Chapter 7	Use of the Common Seal
Chapter 8	Election Period Policy

The Role of The Local Government Act

Australia has three levels of government: federal, state and local. Local government (council), is responsible for planning and delivering a wide range of services for residents, businesses, neighbourhoods and the local community. All councils have the power to make and enforce local laws, and collect revenue to fund their activities.
Every Victorian council varies according to its community. However, all must operate in accordance with the Local Government Act.
We collaborate with our neighbouring councils, which are the cities of Melbourne, Bayside, Glen Eira and Stonnington.
In Victoria, the role of a council is to:
provide good governance in its municipal district for the benefit and wellbeing of the municipal community.
A Council must perform its role giving effect to the following —
- Council decisions are to be made and actions taken in accordance with the relevant law;
- priority is to be given to achieving the best outcomes for the municipal community, including future generations;
- the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the municipal district, including mitigation and planning for climate change risks, is to be promoted;
- the municipal community is to be engaged in strategic planning and strategic decision making;
- innovation and continuous improvement is to be pursued;
- collaboration with other Councils and Governments and statutory bodies is to be sought;
- the ongoing financial viability of the Council is to be ensured;
- regional, state and national plans and policies are to be taken into account in strategic planning and decision making;
- the transparency of Council decisions, actions and information is to be ensured.

Register of Delegations

Public Interest Disclosure (Whistle Blowing)

The City of Port Phillip is committed to the aims and objectives of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2012. It does not tolerate improper conduct by its employees, officers or members, nor the taking of reprisals against those who come forward to disclose such conduct.
The City of Port Phillip recognises the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices, and supports the making of disclosures that reveal corrupt and specified conduct (as defined in the Act),.
The City of Port Phillip will take all reasonable steps to protect people who make such disclosures from any detrimental action in reprisal for making the disclosure.
The Act provides protection to persons who make those disclosures and persons who may suffer detrimental action in reprisal for those disclosures. The Act also provides for the confidentiality of the content of those disclosures and the identity of the persons who make those disclosures.
The Procedures outline the various Council officers who have been delegated the role in dealing with Public Interest Disclosures, which include the Public Interest Disclosure Co-ordinator and the Public Interest Disclosure Officers.
A disclosure about improper conduct or detrimental action in reprisal for a public interest disclosure by the City of Port Phillip or its employees, may also be made directly to IBAC.

Good Governance

The Role of The Local Government Act

The Role of the Local Government Act

Register of Delegations

Council Delegations to Special Committees

Council Delegations to Staff

Public Interest Disclosure (Whistle Blowing)

About Public Interest Disclosure (Whistle Blowing)

Purpose of the Protected Disclosure Act 2012

Council’s Statement of Support for Persons Making Protected Disclosures

Protection for Persons Making Protected Disclosures

Protected Disclosure Procedures

The Reporting System

IBAC

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