The clock is ticking for councillors and senior council staff who need to review or change their declaration of any interests they may have.
A team of State Government investigators will review disclosures of interests submitted by councillors and council staff across NSW to ensure transparency and increase public confidence in the local government sector.
NSW Minister for local government Wendy Tuckerman said investigators from the Office of Local Government would be conducting spot checks of written returns of interests which are required to be completed at all councils across the state.
“Councillors and council staff, including general managers and administrators, are required to declare their interests, including any property they own or interests they have in companies, and whether they are a property developer or associate of a property developer,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
“Checks will be conducted randomly after September 30 so councillors and council staff have more than two months to ensure all the information they’ve provided in their return is accurate and complete.”
Mrs Tuckerman said it was important members of the public had confidence in their councils and their organisational integrity – which this random audit will bolster.
“Our 128 local councils manage $178 billion in assets and spend more than $12 billion each year on providing infrastructure, facilities and services to local communities across the state,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
“It’s a huge responsibility and residents should be able to trust the people they’ve elected to council, along with council staff, are being honest and transparent about any interests they may have.”
