GANNAWARRA Shire Council will bring forward its September meeting to avoid clashing with the 2016 council election period.
Council adopted the council election timetable last Wednesday in accordance with amendments to the Local Government Act.
All council positions will be declared vacant and postal voting will close at 6pm on Friday, October 21.
Shire chief executive officer, Eric Braslis reported that changes to the Local Government Act 1989, arising from the Local Government Amendment (Improved Governance) Act 2015, include a number of electoral reforms which will be implemented in time for the 2016 Victorian council general elections including:
• Making the Victorian Electoral Commission the statutory provider for all council elections;
• Removing the requirement for an exhibition voters’ roll (these rolls were rarely inspected and at times, disappeared from their public location); and
• Requiring councils to have an election period policy and clarifying limitations on publication of council documents during the election period.
Mr Braslis said that the VEC is currently finalising the quotation and electoral service agreement for conduct of the Gannawarra Shire Council election and has commenced the process required to produce the voters’ roll.
“The purpose of an election period policy is to ensure councils publicly explain to their communities how they will conduct their business immediately prior to an election, ensuring council elections are not compromised by inappropriate electioneering by existing councillors, and to safeguard the authority of the incoming council,” he said.
Council staff have also developed a proposed 2016 election timeline to support council decision- making immediately prior to and during the election period, and the transition to business as usual following election day.
Mr Braslis said that a working group consisting of the corporate services director, governance manager, continuous improvement officer and media and communications co-ordinator, has commenced preparation for the election.
