Council adopts Code of Conduct after spirited debate

THE Surf Coast Shire council has adopted its new Councillor Code of Conduct 2021, but not unanimously and only after some spirited debate.

The adoption of the new code, which took place at a special meeting on Tuesday last week, is a requirement of the new Local Government Act.

The council’s code was developed in January and February this year and incorporates values and behaviours developed by the group of councillors to reflect their commitment to a high standard of conduct.

According to a statement from the shire, the 26-page code is designed to assist councillors:

• in maintaining the highest standards of conduct and behaviour
• to discharge the responsibilities of their public office appropriately
• to maintain good working relationships between councillors, and between councillors and staff, and
• to resolve differences between councillors directly where possible to avoid unnecessary cost and disruption.

The final vote to adopt the motion was supported by seven councillors (Gary Allen, Mike Bodsworth, Kate Gazzard, Rose Hodge, Kate Pattison, Adrian Schonfelder and Libby Stapleton) and opposed by two (Paul Barker and Heather Wellington).

Deputy mayor Liz Pattison moved the motion and said it was informed by best practice examples provided by Local Government Victoria.

“This code will support councillors to conduct themselves in a way that is respectful, effective and in the best interests of the community,” Cr Pattison said.

“Its adoption allows councillors to move forward with the important business of council.”

Surf Coast mayor Libby Stapleton said the new code gave certainty to councillors and community about conduct matters.

“The Councillor Code of Conduct 2021 sets out standards for conduct as mandated by the legislation – equally importantly, it articulates council’s collective commitment to each other and to our community.

“Goodwill and collaboration exists already within council but making a public commitment to a standard of conduct and the behaviours we expect is a way to embed these values in an enduring and accountable way.”

Speaking against the motion, Cr Heather Wellington said good policy must be succinct, clear, easy to read and understand and developed through a sound process but “this document fails on all those criteria”, and the $10,000 cost of developing the code was “a waste of public money”.

“At the core of its problem is its apparent attempt to detail every type of human behavior imaginable – both good behaviours to be mandated and bad behaviors to be proscribed,” Cr Wellington said.

“I’m surprised we’re not being told not to be boring, not to be dumb, not to be arrogant, to smile nicely and don’t look glum.”

Cr Mike Bodsworth, who voted in favour, said he did not believe the final draft of the code to be adopted was perfect, but the council should work together to evolve the code to suit the council’s needs.

“There’s repetition in there, it’s not as lean as I would like, the standards that are mandated on councillor behaviour are very clear and they’re very useful standards and I don’t think we need to add a lot to them, but we have a deadline here, so I believe the code should be ratified as it is,” he said.