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Publication Scheme

Our publication scheme describes and categorises information routinely available from council. It has been developed to give the community greater access to information as part of the response to the review of Freedom of Information laws. Information is grouped and accessible through seven classes:

About Us
This section contains the council's history, organisational information, structures and contacts.

History
Blurb about history. 

Councillors
Councillors as elected representatives have a responsibility to ensure that the council delivers high quality services in an effective and efficient manner and that its goals are achieved through collaboration with government, industry and community stakeholders and close involvement with their community.

Click here for information about currently elected councillors and how to contact them.

Committee Structure
View the structure of council committees and meeting dates:

  • Committees (best practice to have link to committee details)
  • Meetings (best practice to have link to meeting scheduled etc)

Organisation Structure
The council’s directorates are (the ones below are examples):

  • Community and Environment Services
  • Corporate Services
  • Infrastructure Services
  • Planning and Development
  • Commercial Businesses

Organisational structure (best practice to have a link to an organisational structure)

Annual Report
Click here to view annual reports for the Western Downs Regional Council.

Media Releases
Click here to view the latest media releases.

Local Government Act
The principal piece of legislation which provides the legislative framework for council is the Local Government Act 1993. The Act provides council with autonomy and flexibility while requiring accountability for its performance.Local Government Act 1993

Our Services
This section contains information about the services the council provides. (Examples below)

Community & Environment Services
Arts & Cultural Services
Community facilities
Environmental Health
Community Health
Local Laws and Animals
Library Services
Children and Family
Community Services
Corporate Services
Customer Service Centres
Human Resources
Infrastructure Services
Construction and Maintenance
Technical Services
Planning and Development
Commercial Businesses
Water
Waste

Our Finances
This section provides financial information about the council’s projected and actual income and expenditure, procurement, tenders and financial audit.

  • Budget - Click here to view the Western Downs Regional Council budget for the 2009/10 financial year (best practice to have a link to budget).
  • Tenders and Procurement - Click here to find out information about council's tender process and contracts (best practice to have link to. 

Our Priorities
The priorities of the Western Downs Regional Council.  Our annual report, corporate and operational plans. 

  • Annual Report  (best practice to link to this doc)
  • Corporate Plan  (best practice to link to this doc)
  • Operational Plan (best practice to link to this doc)

Our Decisions
Council Functions and Powers
Council functions and powers are dependent on State Government legislation. The Local Government Act 1993 and other legislative provisions clearly define the powers and responsibilities of council.

Council has no authority in regard to matters falling outside the mandatory or discretionary powers conferred by the legislation. Council is vested with a variety of specific powers to control, regulate, license or prevent and prohibit the matters deemed relevant to a local authority. These powers are administered through local laws adopted by council.

Local Laws

  • Western Downs Regional Council Laws (best practice to have a link to where all the local laws can be viewed)

Meetings of Council

  • Council meetings and minutes(best practice to have a link to minutes)

Statutory Bodies

  • List any statutory bodies
  • List any statutory bodies

Delegations
EXAMPLE BLURB: The Chief Executive Officer has the delegated authority of council to make decisions on a number of specified matters, in particular of an administrative nature. In turn, the Chief Executive Officer has delegated a number of these powers to specified staff. Delegations are recorded in a Register of Delegations which is open for inspection at the Office of the Chief Executive at INSERT ADDRESS. 

Code Of Conduct for Councillors

  • Code of conduct for councillors (best practice to have a link to code of conduct doc).  

Our Policies
Best practice to have links to polcies. Examples below.  

Community and Environment (examples)

  • Use of open space policy

Corporate Services (examples)

  • Code of conduct for councillors

Infrastructure Services (examples)

  • Asset management policy

Our Lists
Lists and registers that we are required to hold by law. Section 534(1)(d) of the Local Government Act 1993 requires Council to report “a list of registers kept by it and open to inspection”. You can ask for more information about our public registers by contact ing Western Downs Regional Council. 

A sample of our public  registers open to inspection are (examples below):

  • Council’s business entities.
  • Councillors’ register of interests
  • subordinate local laws (local law policies)
  • roads register
  • delegations (by Council and by CEO)
  • enterprises
  • electoral gifts
  • regulatory fees