Believing Local Government to be vulnerable to corruption charges has prompted Penrith City Council to form an Internal Governance Unit. The Unit, headed by Council’s General Manager, has responsibility for ensuring high ethical standards are at the core of all Council policy and processes.
Legal Officer Stephen Britten said the fact that one third of complaints to NSW’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) are levelled against Local Government highlights the exposure of Councils. He said most Local Government organisations are responding to higher community expectations regarding efficiency and effectiveness.
However, he believes they are not managing community expectations of correct ethical behaviour and this can have implications for efficiency as well as community standards. “Eradication of waste, reduction in inefficiency, value for money, and community leadership are all of the outcomes from a good ethical and probity program,” he said.
The Penrith Program has seen the introduction of a strategic internal audit of Council’s processes and procedures. This pinpoints potential problems particularly in high risk areas, such as environmental planning and building approvals.
The program also includes the development of Protected Disclosure Policies. These effectively allow employees to report ethical and probity issues to the Protected Disclosures Coordinator in a confidential environment before a crisis occurs.
Extensive staff training, together with a Code of Conduct, Council’s Code of Meeting Practice and a review of legislative and regulatory guidelines, further aim to have ethical considerations recognised and understood throughout the organisation.
An induction program for new staff and an education program targeting staff and Councillors are vital components of the program.
For further information contact Stephen Britten, telephone (02) 4732 7659.
