Candidate Information SessionWednesday 15 July 2020

About Kingston

• Created in 1994 as a result of municipal restructure

• Significant residential areas in the west and south, major

industrial nodes around Moorabbin, Mordialloc-Braeside,

Moorabbin Airport and Clayton South

• Home to a large industrial area, an airport, world-class golf

courses and areas of high environmental value such as the

Ramsar wetlands in Edithvale/Seaford, the Green Wedge and

13 km of Port Phillip Bay coastline.

About Kingston

About the Council

Child care

M&CH and Immunisation

World class sporting facilities

Libraries and education

Community festivals

Youth Services

Foreshore maintenance

Aged & Disability Services

Arts

School aged care

Waste

Town planning

Organisational structure

Ward structure

11 Wards

11 Councillors

Bunjil Ward

Karkarook Ward

Wattle Ward

Caruana Ward

Chicquita Ward

Como Ward

Melaleuca Ward

Yammerbook Ward

Sandpiper Ward

Longbeach Ward

Banksia Ward

This map of Kingston’s new ward structure can

be found on Council’s website at

https://www.kingston.vic.gov.au/About-

Us/Council/Council-Elections

The role of a Councillor Local Government Act 2020 Section 28

1. The role of a Councillor

a) participate in the decision-making of the Council

b) represent the local community in that decision-making

c) contribute to the strategic direction of the Council through

the development and review of key strategic documents of

the Council, including the Council Plan, Community Vision,

Financial Plan

The role of a Councillor Local Government Act 2020 Section 28

2. In performing the role of a Councillor, a Councillor must:

a) consider the diversity of interests and needs of the local community

b) Support the role of Council

c) Acknowledge and support the role of the Mayor

d) Act lawfully and in accordance with the oath or affirmation of office

e) Act in accordance with the standards of conduct

f) Comply with Council procedures required for good governance.

3. The role of a Councillor does not include the performance of any functions that are specified as functions of the Chief Executive Officer under Section 46.

The role of the Mayor Local Government Act 2020 Section 18

Is to:a) chair Council meetings; and

b) be the principal spokesperson for the Council; and

c) lead engagement with the municipal community on the development of the Council

Plan; and

d) report to the municipal community, at least once each year, on the implementation

of the Council Plan; and

e) promote behaviour among Councillors that meets the standards of conduct set out

in the Councillor Code of Conduct; and

f) assist Councillors to understand their role; and

g) take a leadership role in ensuring the regular review of the performance of the

Chief Executive Officer; and

h) provide advice to the Chief Executive Officer when the Chief Executive Officer is

setting the agenda for Council meetings; and

i) perform civic and ceremonial duties on behalf of the Council.

Role of Chief Executive Officer

• The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has a number of responsibilities which are set out in Section 46 of the Local Government Act 2020.

• These include :

– supporting the Mayor and the Councillors,

– ensuring the effective and efficient management of the day to day operations of the Council

– ensuring that the decisions of the Council are implemented without undue delay

– ensuring that the Council receives timely and reliable advice about its statutory obligations

– supporting the Mayor

– setting the agenda for Council meetings after consulting the Mayor

– when requested by the Mayor, reporting to the Council in respect of the implementation of a Council decision

• The CEO is also the main person to which Council delegates powers.

Decision Making Process

• Councillor Information Sessions (CIS) – used to prepare for

Council or Planning Committee Meetings

• Monthly Council Meetings are formal decision making meetings

• Special Council meetings for urgent decisions

• An individual Councillor cannot make a decision that binds

Council by themselves

• Meeting Procedure is dictated by Governance Rules

Meetings

• Council Meetings are currently held at 7pm on the fourth Monday of each month at our Cheltenham office. These meetings are open to the public.

• Planning committee meetings are currently held at 7pm on the Wednesday prior to the council meeting at our Cheltenham office. These meetings are open to the public.

• Other:

– Preliminary conferences

– Special meetings

Kingston provides a live stream of Council Meetings on our website, where you’ll also find meeting agendas and minutes.

Councillor commitments include:

• Council Meetings

• Councillor Information Sessions:

– Planning (once a month)

– Strategic (twice a month)

• Special Meetings

• Preliminary conferences

Other commitments:

• Advisory committees

• Civic duties (e.g. citizenship ceremonies, Australia Day, ANZAC

Day)

Example of meeting cycle

Ordinary Council Meetings

Planning Committee

Planning CIS

Strategic CIS

Citizenship Ceremonies

Civic Events & Festivals

Annual snapshot

Councillor allowances and support

Allowances (effective 1 December 2019)

• Councillors $31,427.65 (plus Super)

• Mayor up to $94,427.65 (plus Super)

Expenses

• Councillors are entitled to be reimbursed for any necessary out-of-pocket expenses they incur while performing their duties as a councillor.

• Councils are also required to adopt and maintain a policy in relation to the reimbursement of councillor expenses.

• Allowances will be set by determination of the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal under the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal and Improving Parliamentary Standards Act 2019

Eligibility

✓ Australian Citizen

✓ Enrolled in the municipality

• Need not be enrolled in the ward for which you nominate

✓ Completed the mandatory training (section 256 of the Local Government Act

2020)

✓ Not disqualified by any other criteria (see Local Government Act 1989 &

2020), or

✓ Elected by voters

Mandatory training

• Section 256 (7) of the Local Government Act requires all candidates to undertake mandatory training in order to qualify as a candidate

• This session does not qualify as the candidate training

• Mandatory Training to be an eLearning module facilitated by Local Government Victoria (LGV)

• It is anticipated that this training will be available on-line in late July

• Completion of training will generate a certificate to enable candidates to nominate

• Further information will be provided on Kingston’s website at https://www.kingston.vic.gov.au/About-Us/Council/Council-Elections

Candidate information sessions

Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) Candidate Information Workshop

• Tuesday 11 August 6-8pm (online)

Book now at vlga.org.au.

Municipal Association of Victoria ‘Stand for Council’ Community and Candidate Information Session

• Wednesday 26 August 6-8pm (online)

Registration details will be provided soon on Kingston’s website at https://www.kingston.vic.gov.au/About-Us/Council/Council-Elections

Offences Local Government Act 2020

• Printing and publication of electoral material

• Misleading or deceptive matter

• Author to be identified

• Bribery, treating and undue influence

• For more information on electoral offences, refer to provisions

286 to 305 of the Local Government Act (2020).

Campaign

To campaign effectively you need to plan and be prepared. It is

important that you know:

• information about the area in which you are standing

• information about the procedure of the election and voting

processes.

The earlier you start your campaign, the more effective it will be.

You need to consider what message you want to communicate to

voters and how you can best deliver that message.

Previous Election

37,387

39,769

41,198

No. enrolled

77.05% 74.81% 76.17%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

North Central South

2016 voter turnout

Key Election dates

Mandatory training module To be completed before 17 September 2020

VLGA Candidate Information Workshop 11 August 2020

MAV Candidate Information Session 26 August 2020

Entitlement Date 28 August 2020

Publication of election notice 31 August – 5 September 2020

Election office opens 16 September 2020

Nominations open 9am, 17 September 2020

Nominations close 12 noon, 22 September 2020

Candidate statement, photos and questionnaires

submission Close at 12 noon, 23 September 2020

Mail out of ballot packs 6-8 October 2020

Voting closes (for postal elections) 6pm, 23 October 2020

Election will be declared by this date 13 November 2020

How to nominate to be a Candidate

1. Undertake the accredited training

2. Fill out nomination form by hand or online

3. Submit nomination form to the Returning Officer in person

4. Pay the nomination fee ($250) to the Returning Officer

Election Manager Details

Election Manager

Jill Esplan

Location of Office

Building 25, 121 Rayhur Street,

Clayton

Office open to the public

from:

Wednesday 16 September

Once elected – induction program

Within the first week:

• Declaration of poll

• Welcome meeting

• Statutory meeting

Within 2 weeks:

• Governance workshop

• Organisation context induction (3 sessions)

Other planned sessions:

• Council Meeting Workshop

• Tour of Municipality

• Strategic Planning workshop (to be confirmed)

Council Support

• Executive Services – includes the Chief Executive Officer,

General Managers and Executive Assistants.

• Governance - incorporates the key principles of accountability,

culture, information support, organisational performance,

stakeholder relationships and risk management.

• Media & Communications – Promote Council services,

programs and initiatives and enhance the image and public

perception of Kingston City Council.

Useful Links

https://www.kingston.vic.gov.au/About-Us/Council/Council-Elections

Victorian Electoral Commission

Local Government Act 2020

Victorian Local Governance Association

Municipal Association of Victoria

For further information contact:

Governance Team: Phil DeLosa 9581 4710

For a copy of the presentation slides, please email governance@kingston.vic.gov.au

kingston.vic.gov.au