City to enter caretaker period next week

THE City of Greater Geelong council will enter the caretaker period on Tuesday next week as the council election begins.
To comply with the Local Government Act, the council will start the caretaker period at the time nominations close on nomination day (in this case, noon on Tuesday, September 22) and end it at 6pm on election day (October 24).
The city’s director of governance, strategy and performance Rebecca Leonard said Geelong’s councillors could continue to fulfil their duties during the election period in line with the city’s Election Period Policy, Councillor Code of Conduct and Local Government Act 2020.
“Our updated Election Period Policy was approved by Council on September 1 and details the procedures that apply during the election period.
“The Policy ensures the fairness of the election, guides appropriate use of City resources and prevents inappropriate decision-making.”
She said during the election, councillors were prohibited from making decisions that could affect voting in the election or could unfairly commit the incoming council to a major course of action or could have reasonably been made aftaer the election.
“There are also limitations on community engagement and council events during this period.”
According to the Election Period Policy, the types of decisions to not be considered include, but are not limited to:

• Allocating community grants
• Allocating direct funding to community organisations
• Major planning scheme amendments, and
• Changes to strategic objectives and strategies in the council plan.

The City of Greater Geelong council can still meet during the election, but meeting papers will be reviewed by the city to ensure no agenda items could potentially influence voters’ intentions at the election or could encourage councillor candidates to use the item as part of their electioneering.
Matters that can be considered at council meetings include the city’s Annual Report – the council is scheduled to do so on October 20 – and procedural items to complete the council’s term of office, such as planning delegations or approvals
required for compliance purposes.
“Ministerial approval must be granted for any exceptional circumstances that requires a council vote,” Ms Leonard said.
There is also no public question time and submission time during the election period.
Under the Election Period Policy, decisions of the council during the election will be invalid if they relate to the appointment or remuneration of the chief executive officer (but not to the appointment or remuneration of an acting CEO) or commits the council to expenditure exceeding 1 per cent of the council’s income.