Governance

As a local government body, we have a duty to ensure that both our decision making and our day-to-day activities are undertaken in accordance with the best interests of current and future generations of Wyong Shire

Governance is not just a set of processes and structures, but a core responsibility of every councillor and staff member every day.

In order to achieve this, we have a rigorous governance framework in place that goes above and beyond the standards required by the NSW Local Government Act, to help us make the right decisions and set the right course for our community at all times.

Overview of framework

Our governance framework is made up of structures, systems and practices that can be grouped for ease of understanding as the following:

Engagement framework - we are committed to ensuring that everyone with an interest in a decision has the opportunity to be informed, participate and have their voice heard. Mechanisms include precinct committees, complaints and user-friendly feedback channels.

Decision-making - our 10 Councillors make decisions on behalf of the community and comply with a Code of Conduct  and Code of Meeting Practice.  Our Executive Management team makes day-to-day decisions on operational matters and complies with the same Code of Conduct and a set of policies and procedures.

External controls - including compliance with Federal and State Government legislation, NSW Ombudsman, Department of Local Government, Independent Commission Against Corruption, Workcover and external financial audit.

Internal controls - including fraud and corruption prevention, legal and risk management, tendering and procurement and the positions of Internal Audit, Internal Ombudsman and an independent Governance Committee.

Planning and reporting framework - strategic planning, performance reporting and financial reporting.

Policy framework - including the Codes of Conduct and Meeting Practice, Sustainability Principles and general policies under the Policy Register