Behavioural Support Policy

What is being decided?

Council is seeking community feedback on the Draft Behavioural Support Policy to inform the development of the policy prior to its adoption by Council.

Background

In 2021, the South Australian Government carried out an extensive review of the Local Government Act (refer to Statutes Amendment (Local Government Review) Act 2021).

The resulting reforms included establishing a Behavioural Management Framework to strengthen the behavioural standards and management processes for Council members in the performance of their official functions and duties.

Included in the amendments was a requirement for all South Australian Councils to have a Behavioural Management Policy (refer to section 262 of the Local Government Act 1999 (the Act)) and the option for Council's to develop a Behavioural Support Policy (refer to section 75F of the Act).

The purpose of the Behavioural Management Policy is to establish a process that Councils will follow if a complaint is received about the behaviour of a Council member. The Behavioural Support Policy sets out the behavioural standards that the members of a Council agree to observe in relation to interactions with each other and Council staff. These are in addition to the mandatory behavioural standards set by the Minister for Local Government that apply to all Council members in South Australia (refer to SA Government Gazette, 17 November 2022, p. 6658).

At the Council meeting on 29 November 2022, Council adopted a Behavioural Management Policy and endorsed the development of a Behavioural Support Policy (refer to Folio 10387; Items 15.1.7.2 and 15.1.7.4).

A draft Behavioural Support Policy has been prepared and was considered by Council at its meeting on 9 May 2023. The draft policy includes:

• a statement of behavioural principles and values to be observed by Council members in their official duties
• agreed behavioural standards in relation to Council members' interactions with each other and Council staff
• behavioural requirements in relation to the media and social media.

At the meeting on 9 May 2023, Council approved the release of the draft Behavioural Support Policy for public consultation (refer Folio 10541; Item 15.2.7).

Council is now seeking feedback from the community about the draft policy. The feedback will be provided to Council for its consideration and will inform the content of final version of the Behavioural Support Policy adopted by Council.

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