Standing for council

It is the level of government that is closest to the people in your community. It is responsible for making sure that everyone in the community has access to important local services. It helps to shape the community’s future. What is local government?

To contribute to the development and improvement of your community. To represent the interests of people in your community. To make important decisions that impact on the way people live in your area. Why stand for council?

Personal benefits include: increased understanding of the operation of government at all levels; increased confidence in communicating and dealing with people; and increased knowledge of management processes. The benefits of standing for council

Represent local government electors and other ratepayers and residents. Provide leadership and guidance to community members. Facilitate communication between the community and the council. Responsibilities of a councillor

Attend council meetings, and committee meetings as required. Participate in decision making. Act in accordance with the Local Government Act 1995, and with the Local Government (Rules of Conduct) Regulations Responsibilities of a councillor (continued)

The accountabilities of the position as prescribed by the Local Government Act 1995 are: to the council, which: –governs the local government’s affairs; –is responsible for the performance of the local government’s functions; and –is to oversee the allocation of resources and determine the local government’s policies; and to the electors of the local government district. Accountabilities of the position

A local government councillor is expected to: –promote and support good governance of the council and its affairs; –promote and support open and transparent government; –support and adhere to respectful, appropriate and effective relationships with employees of the local government; and –adhere to the Local Government (Rules of Conduct) Regulations 2007 and the local government’s Code of Conduct. Governance and ethical standards

Openness and transparency in decision making; Honesty and integrity in dealing with issues being considered; Tolerance and respect in relationships at all levels; Equality and fairness in promoting community issues; A commitment to attend meetings and be fully prepared to participate in the decision making process; Values, characteristics and commitment to the role

Collegiate approach to serving the community; Commitment to networking and community consultation; Willingness to listen to and consider other peoples’ views and accept challenge from others; Awareness of and management of conflicts of interest; and Preparedness to share the workload with other councillors. Values, characteristics and commitment to the role (continued)

You should have a willingness to participate in opportunities for local government training and development provided for elected members. Personal and role development

Strategic planning and decision making. Good communication and listening. Public speaking. Negotiation and conflict resolution. Community relations. Team work. Knowledge of meeting procedures. Basic financial management. Time management. Recognition of the difference between “governing” and “managing”. Skills of a councillor

Developing a strategic vision for the future of the community. Establishing a plan for the local government to meet that vision. Making decisions on land use planning. Overseeing the financial management of the local government. Developing and reviewing local government policies. What decisions do you make as a councillor?

Governance and management Strategic ManagementOperational Strategic direction Corporate Business Plans Audit reviews Budgets/Financials Allocate resources Policies Employing and managing staff Day to day operations Manage finances Prepare reports Staff performing day to day duties

You can nominate for council if you are: 18 years or older. an elector of the district (more on this later). Who can nominate?

You are not eligible to nominate for council if you: are a member of State or Federal Parliament. are insolvent under administration. are serving a prison sentence for a crime. have been convicted of a serious local government offence within the last five years (unless the court waived the disqualification). have been convicted on indictment of an offence for which the indictable penalty was or included imprisonment for life; or imprisonment for more than five years. Who is prevented from nominating?

You are also not eligible to nominate for council if you: are a member of another council. are subject to a court order that disqualifies you from being a council member. are an elector as the nominee of a company. are already standing for a position on council (unless standing for a position of publicly elected mayor or president). Who is prevented from nominating? (continued)

You are an elector of the district if you: 1)live in the district, and are on the State Electoral Roll for the address where you live; How do you become an elector of the district? Or

You are an elector of the district if you: 2)own a rateable property in the district, live outside the district, and are on the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll for the address where you live; How do you become an elector of the district? (continued 1) Or

You are an elector of the district if you: 3)occupy rateable property in the district (for instance, as a business owner), live outside the district, and are on the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll for the address where you live. How do you become an elector of the district? (continued 2)

Important note: If you are an owner or occupier of rateable property, but do not live in the district, you need to make an application to the relevant local government to go on the roll.

The returning officer for your local government’s elections will, between 22 August and 2 September 2015, publish an advertisement in newspapers, local government offices and libraries, calling for nominations. The notice will include: –the number of vacancies to be filled; –the nomination place; and –the nomination period. The call for nominations

The nomination period runs for one week, beginning on Thursday 3 September 2015 and ending at 4.00pm on Thursday 10 September 2015 The nomination period

Complete a nomination form (Form 8) OR ask an agent to complete a form for you (Form 9). A nomination using Form 9 must be accompanied by a written authorisation from you.  All forms related to local government elections come for the Local Government (Elections) Regulations 1997, and are available from the Department of Local Government and Communities’ website, or your local government. Write a candidate profile. Give or send these to the returning officer with $80 as a deposit between 3 September and 10 September Remember that nominations close on 10 September 2015 at 4.00pm. How to nominate

Candidate profiles are displayed on local government notice boards. Your profile: must be written in English; must be no more than 150 words; must only include biographical information and statements about your policies or beliefs; must not contain information that is false, misleading or defamatory; must be capable of being printed on a single A4 page; must include your full name and contact details; and may include a recent head, or head and shoulders, photograph of passport size. The candidate profile

Find out if your election is: a “voting in person” election or a postal voting election Planning your campaign

In a “voting in person” election, electors generally vote in person at designated polling places on election day. (There are alternatives, but more on that later.) “Voting in person” elections are usually conducted by the local government itself, with the CEO as returning officer. Planning your campaign (continued 1)

In a postal voting election, voting packages are mailed to electors, who then fill in their ballot papers and return them by post. Postal voting elections are conducted by the Western Australian Electoral Commission, which also appoints the returning officers for these elections. Planning your campaign (continued 2)

Early voting is available at the place nominated by the returning officer in the election notice. Postal voting is also available for “voting in person” elections, by making an application to the CEO of the relevant local government using Form 12. Absent voting is available at any local government office in Western Australia from the date of issue of the election notice. Alternative voting methods for “voting in person” elections

Event:Date: Last day to enrolFriday 28 August 2015 Nominations openThursday 3 September 2015 Nominations close Thursday 10 September 2015 at 4.00 pm Commencement of early and absent voting (only applies to voting in person elections) Publication of the Election Notice in The West Australian newspaper Close of early voting Friday 16 October 2015 at 4.00pm ELECTION DAY! Saturday 17 October 2015 Important dates

Make note of the important dates. Prepare your campaign strategy. Check your local government’s local laws regarding election signs. Preparing your campaign

All election material must display the name and address of the person who authorised it. All election material must display the name and address of the person or business responsible for printing it. Preparing your campaign (continued)

Election campaigning peaks on election day. Most voters vote on election day. Electors may not know about the election. You may need to appoint campaign assistants at polling places on election day. Campaigning – “Voting in person” elections

Campaigning needs to start early as, in past elections: 50% of electors who vote have done so within two days of voting packages being mailed to them. 60% of electors who vote have done so within a week of voting packages being mailed to them. Only a small number of electors hand in their votes at a polling place on election day. Campaigning – Postal voting elections

Strategies include: getting to know your area and your neighbours. telephoning people you know; expanding your 150 word profile in material given to your electors; making contact with local organisations; responding to issues raised by electors; giving interviews to local media; advertising in local newspapers; developing a website; and distributing leaflets and pamphlets. Campaigning

Both you, and your donors, must disclose any donations: Of $200 or more in value. Given, or promised, within six months prior to election day. Disclosures must be made in writing on the Disclosure of Gifts form (Form 9A), which is to be lodged with the CEO of the local government. Declaring donations

On nominating for council, you and your donors must disclose any existing gifts, or promises of gifts, within three days. Any gifts or promises made after this must be disclosed within three days of being made. Any gift of $200 or more received from an unidentified donor is to be provided to the CEO for disposal. Declaring donations (continued)

A candidate is not permitted in the polling place other than to cast a vote. Scrutineers are authorised by the candidate to observe the conduct of the election at the polling place and to scrutinise ballot papers at the counting of votes. Scrutineers must not take custody of postal votes. Appointment of scrutineers is made on Form 18, available from the returning officer. Appointing scrutineers

Support from the Department of Local Government and Communities for mayors, presidents and councillors: Telephone and advice. Publications. Post election support programs for elected members. When you’re elected

Contact number: (08) Freecall: (Country Only) Advisory Hotline: Department of Local Government and Communities

It’s your community. Stand for council