City of Brisbane Regulation 2012

1Short title

This regulation may be cited as the City of Brisbane Regulation 2012.

2Definitions

The dictionary in schedule 4 defines particular words used in this regulation.

3Boundaries of Brisbane—Act, s 7(4)

(1)External boundaries of Brisbane are shown on map LGB 1 edition 3, sheet 1.

(2)To remove any doubt, it is declared that any part of a watercourse, including the land below the high-water mark of the watercourse, that is within the boundary of Brisbane is part of Brisbane.

Note—

Brisbane is the council’s local government area.

(3)A watercourse includes a canal, lake or river.

s 3 amd 2015 SL No. 182 s 10; 2016 SL No. 195 s 3; 2019 SL No. 259 s 6

4Wards of Brisbane—Act, s 17(2)

(1)The wards of Brisbane are named in schedule 1.

(2)The boundaries of each ward are shown on map LGB 1 edition 3, sheets 2 to 27.

(3)For each ward, the boundaries are shown on the sheet number of map LGB 1 edition 3 stated in schedule 1 opposite the ward’s name.

s 4 amd 2015 SL No. 182 s 11; 2016 SL No. 195 s 4; 2019 SL No. 259 s 7

5Availability of map of Brisbane

(1)The department’s chief executive must ensure—

(a)the department’s website states a place or places where a copy of map LGB 1 edition 3 (including sheets 2 to 27 of the map) may be viewed by the public; and

(b)a copy of the map may be viewed by the public at the place or places; and

(c)the council has a copy of the map.

(2)The council must ensure the public may view a copy of map LGB 1 edition 3 (including sheets 2 to 27 of the map) at its public office.

s 5 amd 2015 SL No. 182 s 12; 2016 SL No. 195 s 5; 2019 SL No. 259 s 8

6What pt 2 is about

This part prescribes, for section 21(2)(c) of the Act, the other matters to be considered by the change commission when assessing whether a proposed boundary change is in the public interest.

7Communities of interest

(1)The external boundaries of Brisbane should be drawn in a way that has regard to communities of interest, including that Brisbane should generally—

(a)reflect local communities, for example, the geographical pattern of human activities (where people live, work and engage in leisure activities), and the linkages between local communities; and

(b)have a centre, or centres, of administration and service easily accessible to its population; and

(c)ensure effective elected representation for residents and ratepayers; and

(d)have external boundaries that—

(i)do not divide local neighbourhoods or adjacent rural and urban areas with common interests or interdependencies, including, for example, economic, cultural and ethnic interests or interdependencies; and

(ii)subject to the water catchment principle—follow the natural geographical features and non-natural features separating different communities; and

(iii)do not dissect properties.

(2)The water catchment principle is the principle that water catchment areas should generally be included in the local government area they service.

8Joint arrangements

(1)Regard should be had to whether or not a joint arrangement should be established instead of, or in combination with, a change to the external boundaries of Brisbane.

(2)A joint arrangement includes the following—

(a)a joint local government;

(b)a joint standing committee;

(c)joint action by agreement;

(d)the joint exercise of local government jurisdiction or the joint operation of an activity, facility or service;

(e)an agreement on, or extension of, an activity, facility or service outside Brisbane;

(f)a contribution for the operation of an activity, facility or service outside Brisbane;

(g)resource sharing by the council and other local governments;

(h)any other type of arrangement of a joint nature the change commission considers appropriate, including an arrangement not dealt with under the Act.

9Planning

The external boundaries of Brisbane should be drawn in a way that—

(a)helps in—

(i)the planning and development for the benefit of Brisbane; and

(ii)the efficient and effective operation of its facilities, services and activities; and

(b)has regard to existing and expected population growth.

10Resource base sufficiency

The council should have a sufficient resource base—

(a)to be able to efficiently and effectively exercise its jurisdiction and operate facilities, services and activities; and

(b)to be flexible and responsive in the exercise of its jurisdiction and the operation of its activities, facilities and services.

11Local law register—Act, s 34

(1)For section 34(1) of the Act, the council’s register of its local laws must contain, for each local law, the local law’s name, purposes and general effect.

(2)A person may, on payment of a fee decided by the council, request an extract or a certified copy of a local law from the register of its local laws.

(3)The fee mentioned in subsection (2) must be no more than the reasonable cost of providing the extract or copy.

(4)The council must publish the register of its local laws on its website.

12Anti-competitive provisions and review procedures

(1)For the Act, schedule, definition anti-competitive provision, a provision is identified as creating a barrier to entry to a market or competition within a market if a local government, applying the competition policy guidelines, identifies the provision as creating one of those barriers.

(2)For section 41(1) of the Act, the procedures prescribed are the procedures mentioned in the competition policy guidelines.

(3)The competition policy guidelines is the document called ‘National Competition Policy Guidelines for conducting reviews on anti-competitive provisions in local laws’, version 1, made by the department.

Editor’s note—

A copy of the competition policy guidelines is available on the department’s website.

s 12 sub 2013 SL No. 273 s 4

14What pt 2 is about

This part is about reforming a significant business activity of the council in accordance with the competitive neutrality principle.

Note—

See sections 47 and 48 of the Act.

15Reforming a significant business activity

(1)The council must identify and assess each new significant business activity for possible reform.

(2)If the council decides to reform the significant business activity, the reform must involve—

(a)applying full cost pricing to the activity; or

(b)commercialising the activity; or

(c)corporatising the activity by creating a corporatised business entity to conduct the activity.

16Threshold for significant business activity—Act, s 47

(1)This section prescribes, for section 47(4)(b) of the Act, the threshold a business activity must meet to be a significant business activity for a financial year (the current financial year).

(2)The threshold for the business activity is expenditure of at least $9.7m for the business activity for the financial year ending immediately before the current financial year.

(3)The Minister must consult with LGAQ Ltd. about a proposed amendment to the threshold.

s 16 amd 2013 SL No. 273 s 5; 2014 SL No. 290 s 4; 2015 SL No. 173 s 4; 2016 SL No. 217 s 3

sub 2019 SL No. 39 s 4

17Identifying significant business activity for report—Act, s 49

For section 49(b) of the Act, the council must use the financial information for the previous financial year that was presented to the council’s budget meeting to identify each new significant business activity for the financial year.

18What div 3 is about

(1)This division explains how the council applies full cost pricing to a significant business activity as part of the reform of the activity.

(2)This division applies whether the reform is done by—

(a)full cost pricing; or

(b)commercialisation; or

(c)corporatisation.

(3)This division expands on section 48 of the Act.

19Full cost pricing

(1)The council applies full cost pricing to a significant business activity by charging for goods or services at the full cost of providing the goods or services, subject to the following—

(a)the pricing provisions;

(b)the removal of any competitive advantage or disadvantage, whenever possible and appropriate;

(c)if a competitive advantage or disadvantage can not be removed—the taking of the competitive advantage or disadvantage into account when pricing the goods or services.

(2)For subsection (1)—

(a)the council applies full cost pricing to a significant business activity if the total projected revenue from providing all of the activity’s goods and services is enough to cover the projected total costs of conducting the activity; and

(b)it is not relevant whether the projected revenue from providing a particular good or service is enough to cover the projected costs incurred in providing that particular good or service.

(3)A competitive advantage is an advantage a business entity conducting a significant business activity has over a private sector business because the council owns the activity.

(4)For example, a competitive advantage includes—

(a)a financial advantage; and

(b)a procedural advantage; and

(c)a regulatory advantage.

Examples of a financial advantage—

A business entity conducting a significant business activity has a financial advantage if the business entity—

•is exempt from paying a local government tax a private sector business must pay; or

•is charged a different government tax from the government tax that a private sector business is charged; or

•is charged a lower rate of interest on a bank loan because the State guarantees the loan.

Examples of a procedural advantage—

A business entity conducting a significant business activity has a procedural advantage if the business entity—

•does not have to supply the same amount of information under a government approval process as a private sector business; or

•can access more information for a government approval process than a private sector business can access.

Example of a regulatory advantage—

A business entity conducting a significant business activity has a regulatory advantage if the business entity is exempt (completely or partly) from a government approval process a private sector business must follow.

(5)A competitive disadvantage is a disadvantage a business entity conducting a significant business activity suffers over a private sector business because the council owns the activity.

(6)For example, a competitive disadvantage includes a community service obligation.

20Cost of community service obligations

(1)This section applies when the council is deciding what to charge for goods or services provided in conducting a significant business activity.

(2)The cost of carrying out community service obligations, less any revenue received from performing the obligations, must be treated as revenue for the significant business activity.

21Community service obligations

A community service obligation is an obligation the council imposes on a business entity to do something that is not in the commercial interests of the business entity to do.

Example of a community service obligation—

giving a price concession to a particular group of customers, including pensioners, seniors and students

22Taking account of government taxes

(1)A commercialised business unit that is applying full cost pricing to a significant business activity must comply with the tax equivalents manual.

(2)The tax equivalents manual is a manual, issued by the Treasurer, about how a local government must account for tax equivalents.

(3)A tax equivalent is an amount that is the equivalent to the advantage gained by a local government by not paying a tax the local government would be liable to pay if it were a private sector business.

(4)A tax includes any charge, duty, fee, levy or rate payable under an Act of the Commonwealth or the State, including the Act.

(5)The tax equivalents manual may, for example, provide for—

(a)lodging tax returns; and

(b)assessing tax returns; and

(c)rulings, including the application of rulings about taxes imposed under a Commonwealth Act; and

(d)objections and appeals against assessments and rulings; and

(e)the appointment of tax assessors.

(6)The Treasurer must table a copy of each amendment of the tax equivalents manual in the Legislative Assembly within 14 sitting days after the amendment is made.

23What div 4 is about

(1)This division is about the commercialisation of a significant business activity by the council.

(2)This involves the council ensuring the significant business activity is conducted by a commercial business unit within the council, as required under this division.

24Commercial business unit

(1)As part of the commercialisation of a significant business activity, the council must—

(a)if the activity is being conducted by a business unit—convert the business unit to a commercial business unit; or

(b)if the activity is not being conducted by a business unit—create a commercial business unit and transfer the activity to the commercial business unit.

(2)A commercial business unit is a business unit that conducts business in accordance with the key principles of commercialisation.

25What are the key principles of commercialisation

The key principles of commercialisation, for a commercial business unit, are—

(a)clarity of objectives, namely that the council—

(i)gives the unit clear and non-conflicting objectives; and

(ii)sets specific financial and non-financial performance targets for the significant business activity; and

(iii)keeps activities relating to council policy formulation, or that are of a regulatory nature, separate from the unit, wherever possible; and

(iv)clearly identifies the nature and extent of the community service obligations the unit must perform; and

(v)sets performance targets for the unit’s community service obligations; and

(vi)separately costs the unit’s community service obligations; and

(vii)appropriately compensates the unit for performing the community service obligations, and discloses details of the compensation to the public; and

(b)management autonomy and authority, namely that—

(i)the unit remains at arms-length to the council in day-to-day operations; and

(ii)the council gives the unit autonomy in day-to-day operations, subject to overarching monitoring; and

(iii)any directions the council gives the unit to achieve non-commercial objectives are given in an open way; and

(iv)the unit uses its best endeavours to ensure the unit meets its performance targets; and

(c)accountability for performance, namely that—

(i)the council monitors the unit’s performance against the performance targets; and

(ii)the unit must generally be subject to the management framework of the council; and

(iii)the unit complies with all laws the council must comply with; and

(d)competitive neutrality, namely that the unit complies with the competitive neutrality principle by—

(i)removing any competitive advantage or competitive disadvantage, wherever possible and appropriate; and

(ii)promoting efficiency of the use of resources to ensure markets are not unnecessarily distorted.

26Converting a business unit to a commercial business unit

(1)The council must make the decision to convert a business unit to a commercial business unit by resolution.

(2)The council converts a business unit to a commercial business unit by changing the way in which the business unit is conducted to agree with the key principles of commercialisation.

27Creating a commercial business unit

(1)The council must make the decision to create a commercial business unit by resolution.

(2)The decision may be made in the same resolution the council makes to commercialise a significant business activity.

(3)A commercial business unit may be created to conduct more than 1 significant business activity.

28Building certifying activity—Act, s 51

Any business activity conducted by the council is prescribed for section 51(4)(b) of the Act.

s 28 amd 2019 SL No. 39 s 5

29Prescribed business activities—Act, s 51

(1)A business activity is prescribed for section 51(7) of the Act for a financial year if the amount of current expenditure for the business activity for the previous financial year is $340,000 or more.

(2)The amount of current expenditure for a business activity for a financial year is the total of the following amounts spent in conducting the activity for the year—

(a)operational costs;

(b)administrative and overhead costs;

(c)cost of resources;

(d)depreciation.

s 29 amd 2013 SL No. 273 s 6; 2014 SL No. 290 s 5; 2015 SL No. 173 s 5; 2016 SL No. 217 s 4; 2019 SL No. 39 s 6

30What div 6 is about

This division prescribes, for section 52(4) of the Act, the process for resolving competitive neutrality complaints.

31Application of sdiv 2

This subdivision applies to a business activity, conducted by a business entity, to which the competitive neutrality principle applies.

32Minimum requirements for complaint process

(1)This section sets out the minimum requirements for the council’s process for resolving a competitive neutrality complaint in relation to the business entity.

(2)The council must ensure the process deals with the following—

(a)resolving a matter before making a complaint, including, for example, the process for—

(i)a person to raise concerns about alleged failures of the business entity to comply with the competitive neutrality principle in conducting the business activity; and

(ii)clarifying the matter;

(b)recording all complaints, decisions and recommendations.

33Making a complaint

(1)A person who wants to make a competitive neutrality complaint must make the complaint in writing to the council or the competition authority.

(2)The complaint must contain—

(a)details of the business entity’s alleged failure to comply with the competitive neutrality principle in conducting the business activity the subject of the competitive neutrality complaint; and

(b)information that shows—

(i)the person (the complainant) is, or could be, in competition with the business entity; and

(ii)how the complainant is, or may be, adversely affected by the business entity’s alleged failure; and

(iii)the complainant has made a genuine attempt to resolve the complaint through the process mentioned in section 32(2)(a).

(3)If a person makes a competitive neutrality complaint to the council, the council must give the complaint to the competition authority as soon as is practicable.

(4)The making of a complaint does not stop the business entity from conducting the business activity.

s 33 amd 2015 Act No. 29 s 69 sch 2; 2021 Act No. 12 s 217 sch 6

34Competition authority must investigate and report on complaint

The competition authority must, subject to this part, investigate and report on a competitive neutrality complaint received under section 33.

s 34 amd 2015 Act No. 29 s 69 sch 2; 2021 Act No. 12 s 217 sch 6

35Competition authority requiring further information

(1)The competition authority may, by notice given to a complainant, require the complainant to give the competition authority further information about the complaint (the additional information) within the reasonable period stated in the notice (the stated period).

(2)However, the competition authority may only require additional information that is necessary and reasonable to help the competition authority to decide whether or not to investigate the complaint.

(3)The competition authority may refuse to investigate a complaint if the complainant fails, without reasonable excuse, to give the competition authority the additional information within the stated period.

s 35 amd 2015 Act No. 29 s 69 sch 2; 2021 Act No. 12 s 217 sch 6

36Competition authority refusing to investigate

(1)The competition authority may refuse to investigate a competitive neutrality complaint if the competition authority reasonably believes that—

(a)the complainant has not shown that the complainant made a genuine attempt to resolve the matter through the process mentioned in section 32(2)(a); or

(b)the complainant is not, or will not be, in competition with the council, after the competition authority considers—

(i)whether the complainant is, or will be, supplying goods or services that are similar to the goods or services the business activity supplies; and

(ii)the laws relating to competition that apply to the business activity; or

(c)the complainant is not, or is unlikely to be, adversely affected if the business activity is not conducted in a way that complies with the competitive neutrality principle; or

(d)the complaint is frivolous or vexatious.

(2)If the competition authority refuses to investigate the complaint, the competition authority must give each of the following a refusal notice within 14 days—

(a)the complainant;

(b)the council.

(3)A refusal notice is a document that states—

(a)that the competition authority has refused to investigate the complaint; and

(b)the reasons for the refusal.

s 36 amd 2015 Act No. 29 s 69 sch 2; 2021 Act No. 12 s 217 sch 6

37Notice of intention to investigate

(1)Before the competition authority starts to investigate a competitive neutrality complaint, the competition authority must give an investigation notice to—

(a)the complainant; and

(b)the council; and

(c)if a corporatised business entity is conducting the business activity—the corporatised business entity.

(2)The competition authority may also give an investigation notice to another person the competition authority considers appropriate.

(3)An investigation notice is a document that—

(a)states the competition authority’s intention to investigate a competitive neutrality complaint; and

(b)states the subject matter of the complaint, or has a copy of the complaint attached; and

(c)invites the complainant to make written submissions or, if the competition authority approves, oral submissions about the matter; and

(d)states a reasonable period within which the submissions may be made; and

(e)states the competition authority’s address.

s 37 amd 2015 Act No. 29 s 69 sch 2; 2021 Act No. 12 s 217 sch 6

38Power to require certain information from council or corporatised business entity

(1)When investigating a competitive neutrality complaint, the competition authority may give an information requirement notice to—

(a)the council; or

(b)if a corporatised business entity is conducting the business activity—the corporatised business entity.

(2)An information requirement notice is a written notice that states the council or corporatised business entity is required to—

(a)give the competition authority stated information relevant to the complaint within a stated period; or

(b)produce a stated document relevant to the complaint to the competition authority at a stated time and place.

(3)The council or corporatised business entity must comply with the notice unless—

(a)the stated information or document is subject to legal professional privilege, parliamentary privilege or public interest immunity; or

(b)giving the stated information or document to the competition authority is prohibited under an Act; or

(c)giving the stated information or document to the competition authority could reasonably be expected to prejudice the investigation of a contravention, or possible contravention, of a law.

(4)The council or corporatised business entity is not liable for a breach of a contract, confidence or duty for giving the competition authority a copy of the stated information, or producing the stated document to the authority, in compliance with the notice.

s 38 prev s 38 om 2015 Act No. 29 s 69 sch 2

pres s 38 ins 2021 Act No. 12 s 197

39Matters competition authority must consider when investigating

(1)The competition authority must consider the competitive neutrality criteria when investigating a competitive neutrality complaint.

(2)The following matters are the competitive neutrality criteria—

(a)the need to ensure the competitive neutrality principle is complied with;

(b)any council policies about the competitive neutrality principle, including, for example—

(i)directions the council gives to the business entity conducting the business activity the subject of the competitive neutrality complaint; and

(ii)arrangements between the council and the business entity about a competitive advantage gained, or competitive disadvantage suffered, by the business entity; and

(iii)social welfare and equity considerations, including, for example, community service obligations, and the availability of goods and services to consumers; and

(iv)policies on economic and regional development issues, including, for example, policies on employment and investment growth;

(c)council policies, or a law, about—

(i)ecologically sustainable development; or

(ii)industrial relations; or

(iii)occupational health and safety;

(d)the need to promote competition;

(e)the need to allocate resources efficiently.

(3)Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the competition authority may consider when investigating a competitive neutrality complaint.

s 39 amd 2015 Act No. 29 s 69 sch 2; 2021 Act No. 12 s 217 sch 6

40Competition authority’s report on investigation

(1)The competition authority must prepare a report on the results of the competition authority’s investigation of a competitive neutrality complaint, and give it to—

(a)the council; and

(b)if a corporatised business entity is conducting the business activity—the corporatised business entity.

(2)The report must state whether or not the competition authority considers the complaint has been substantiated.

(3)If the competition authority decides the business entity has a competitive advantage, the report must include—

(a)recommendations on how the business entity can conduct the business activity in a way that complies with the competitive neutrality principle; and

(b)the reasons for the recommendations; and

(c)for a complaint about a building certifying activity—comments on how carrying out the statutory building functions has resulted in a competitive advantage.

(4)The statutory building functions are the building functions under the Building Act or Planning Act that—

(a)only a local government can provide; and

(b)a building certifier under the Building Act relies on.

Examples—

•providing site or town planning information to a building certifier

•receiving and processing documents from a building certifier

(5)If the competition authority decides the business entity suffers a competitive disadvantage, the report must include—

(a)recommendations on how the business entity can overcome the competitive disadvantage; and

(b)the reasons for the recommendations; and

(c)comments about the competitive disadvantage, including comments about the effect of the disadvantage on the business entity.

s 40 amd 2015 Act No. 29 s 69 sch 2; 2021 Act No. 12 s 217 sch 6

41Public access to report

The council must ensure the public can inspect a copy of the report at the council’s public office as soon as practicable after the competition authority gives the council the report.

s 41 amd 2015 Act No. 29 s 69 sch 2; 2021 Act No. 12 s 217 sch 6

42Information to persons given an investigation notice

The competition authority must give the following documents to any other person to whom the competition authority gave an investigation notice—

(a)a copy of the recommendations in the report;

(b)notice that the person may inspect the report, including recommendations, at the council’s public office.

s 42 amd 2015 Act No. 29 s 69 sch 2; 2021 Act No. 12 s 217 sch 6

43Council response to competition authority’s report

(1)The council must decide, by resolution, whether to implement the recommendations in the competition authority’s report.

(2)The resolution must state the reasons for the council’s decision.

(3)The council must make the resolution—

(a)within 1 month after the competition authority gives the report to the council; or

(b)if the council does not ordinarily meet within that month—at the first meeting of the council after that month.

(4)The council must, within 7 days after making the resolution, give notice of the resolution to—

(a)the complainant; and

(b)the competition authority; and

(c)if a corporatised business entity is conducting the business activity—the corporatised business entity.

(5)If a corporatised business entity is conducting the business activity, the corporatised business entity must implement the recommendations as soon as practicable.

s 43 amd 2015 Act No. 29 s 69 sch 2; 2021 Act No. 12 s 217 sch 6

43AConfidentiality requests

(1)This section applies if a person believes that the disclosure of information given, or to be given, to the competition authority under this division is likely to damage the person’s commercial activities.

(2)The person may give the competition authority a written notice (a confidentiality request) that—

(a)states the person’s belief; and

(b)asks the authority not to disclose the information to an external entity without the person’s consent.

(3)The competition authority may accept the person’s confidentiality request if the authority is satisfied—

(a)the person’s belief is justified; and

(b)disclosure of the information would not be in the public interest.

(4)If the competition authority accepts the person’s confidentiality request, the authority must not—

(a)include the information in a report about the investigation of a competitive neutrality complaint; or

(b)otherwise disclose the information to an external entity.

(5)Subsection (4) does not apply if the information is included in a report, or otherwise disclosed to an external entity, in a way that could not reasonably be expected to identify the person.

(6)In this section—

commercial activities means activities conducted on a commercial basis.

contractor, of the competition authority, means a person (other than a member or employee of the authority) who performs services for the authority—

(a)under a contract between the person and the authority; or

(b)under an arrangement between the authority and another person.

external entity, in relation to information, means an entity other than—

(a)the Minister; or

(b)a member of the competition authority; or

(c)a member of the competition authority’s staff, or a contractor of the authority, who would ordinarily receive the information in administering, or performing a function under, this Act; or

(d)the council.

information includes a document.

person includes a local government or business entity.

s 43A ins 2021 Act No. 12 s 198

44Register

(1)The council must establish a register of business activities to which the competitive neutrality principle applies.

(2)The register must state the following—

(a)business activities to which the council has applied the competitive neutrality principle, and the date from which the competitive neutrality principle applied to each business activity;

(b)business activities to which the code of competitive conduct applies, and the date from which the code applied to each business activity;

(c)a list of—

(i)current investigation notices for competitive neutrality complaints; and

(ii)the business activities to which the complaints relate; and

(iii)the council’s responses to the competition authority’s recommendations on the complaints.

s 44 amd 2015 Act No. 29 s 69 sch 2; 2021 Act No. 12 s 217 sch 6

45Prescribed particulars for register of roads—Act, s 81

(1)For section 81(1)(b)(iii) of the Act, the other particulars prescribed are—

(a)the length of every road, including an unformed road, in Brisbane; and

(b)if a road is formed, gravelled pavement or sealed pavement—the length and width of the formed, gravelled pavement or sealed pavement part of the road; and

(c)if a road consists of a through road and an adjacent road—the width of each as if each were a separate road.

(2)For subsection (1)—

(a)a length must be measured in kilometres and a width must be measured in metres; and

(b)the width of a divided road is the total width of all sections of the divided road that are formed, gravelled pavement or sealed pavement.

(3)In this section—

formed, for a road, means a road, other than a gravelled pavement or sealed pavement road, formed so that stormwater drains from the road.

gravelled pavement, for a road, means a road surfaced with gravel, limestone or rubble and constructed by the use of a mechanical compaction process.

sealed pavement, for a road, means a road with a surface of asphalt, bitumen, concrete or pavers.

unformed, for a road, means a road or track that—

(a)is not a formed, gravelled pavement or sealed pavement road; but

(b)is open to, and used by, the public.

ch 3 pt 3 div 2 hdg sub 2015 SL No. 173 s 6

46Other matters connected with managing, promoting or using malls—Act, s 88

(1)For section 88(3) of the Act, this section prescribes other matters connected with managing, promoting or using a mall.

(2)In relation to a mall, the council may do any of the following—

(a)anything that is necessary or desirable for developing, managing, maintaining (including cleaning), promoting, or using the mall;

(b)permit the use of any part of the mall (including for the use of erecting any structure, for example) on the conditions it considers appropriate;

(c)anything incidental to its powers mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).

(3)The council’s planning scheme must include all existing and proposed malls in the council’s local government area.

s 46 sub 2015 SL No. 173 s 6

59Harbours, jetties, breakwaters and ramps

(1)The council may construct, maintain, manage and regulate the use of—

(a)harbours for small vessels in or over tidal waters; and

(b)jetties, breakwaters and ramps in or over tidal waters.

(2)The council may exercise powers under subsection (1) for a harbour or proposed harbour even if the waters of the harbour are inside the limits of a port within the meaning of the Transport Infrastructure Act.

(3)The council may occupy and use foreshore, tidal land or tidal waters to undertake work in exercising the powers under subsection (1).

(4)While the council occupies or uses foreshore, tidal land or tidal waters, the foreshore, land or waters are taken to be within Brisbane.

60Canals

(1)This section is about canals within the meaning of the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995, section 9.

(2)If a local law affects the owner of a structure in a canal, the owner of the structure is—

(a)the holder of the development permit under the Planning Act to build the structure; or

(b)the owner of the land—

(i)that receives the benefit of the structure; or

(ii)to which the structure is connected.

61The foreshore

(1)The Governor in Council may, by gazette notice, place a foreshore that is adjoining Brisbane under the control of the council.

(2)While the foreshore is under the council’s control the foreshore is taken to be part of Brisbane.

62Bathing reserves

(1)The Governor in Council may, by gazette notice, place the following under the control of the council as a bathing reserve—

(a)a part of a seashore;

(b)land under the sea that is adjacent to the part of a seashore and seawards for a distance of not more than 1km beyond low-water mark at ordinary spring tides;

(c)sea above the part of a seashore and land.

(2)The seashore is—

(a)the foreshore; or

(b)State land that—

(i)is above the high-water mark at ordinary spring tides; and

(ii)is ordinarily covered by sand or shingle; and

(iii)is not subject to a licence, permit or other authority granted by the State under an Act.

(3)While the bathing reserve is under the council’s control the bathing reserve is taken to be part of Brisbane.

63Public thoroughfare easements

(1)This section is about land within Brisbane that is subject to a public thoroughfare easement.

(2)The council has control of the land, subject to the provisions of the instrument that created the easement.

(3)Control of the land includes the right to take all necessary steps for—

(a)construction on, maintenance of or improvement of the land; and

(b)regulation of the use of the land.

(4)The council is responsible for maintaining the land.

(5)The owner of the land is not required, and can not be required, to maintain, or to contribute to the maintenance of, any part of the land.

(6)The owner of the land is—

(a)if the land is land granted in trust under the Land Act—the trustee of the land; or

(b)if the land is non-freehold land under the Land Act—the lessee or licensee of the land; or

(c)if the land is a lot under the Land Title Act—the registered owner of the lot.

(7)The owner of the land is not, and can not be made, civilly liable for an act done, or omission made, honestly and without negligence in relation to the land.

(8)When deciding what rights and liabilities attach because of something that happened on the land, the land is taken to be a road under the council’s control.

Note—

See the Economic Development Act 2012, section 51AW in relation to the non-application of this provision to land subject to particular public thoroughfare easements.

s 63 amd 2019 Act No. 11 s 231 sch 1 pt 2

64Boundary works

(1)This section is about a road or other work that is to be, or has been, built—

(a)along the boundary between Brisbane and another local government area; and

(b)partly in Brisbane and the other area.

(2)The cost of planning, constructing, maintaining and managing the road or other work is the joint responsibility of the council and the other local government.

(3)The council must enter into the arrangements that are necessary to perform that responsibility.

65What is the value of land

The value, of land for a financial year, is its value under the Land Valuation Act when a liability for payment of rates or charges for the land arises for the financial year.

66Land that is exempt from rating—Act, s 95

For section 95(3)(f)(i) of the Act, land owned or held by the council is exempted from rating unless the land is leased by the council to someone other than another local government.

67Rateable value of land

(1)The council must calculate the rates for land by using the rateable value of the land.

(2)The rateable value of land for a financial year is the value of the land—

(a)for the financial year; or

(b)as averaged over a number of financial years.

(3)The council may use the value of the land averaged over a number of financial years only if the council decides, by resolution, to do so.

(4)The resolution must state whether the council will use, for deciding the rateable value of the land—

(a)the 2-year averaged value of the land; or

(b)the 3-year averaged value of the land.

(5)However, if the value of the land averaged over a number of financial years is more than the value of the land for the financial year, the rates must be calculated using the value of the land for the financial year.

68Working out the 2-year averaged value

(1)The 2-year averaged value of land for a financial year is the amount that equals—

(a)if the land had a value for the previous financial year—

•the value of the land for the previous financial year

•plus the value of the land for the financial year

•divided by 2; or

(b)if the land did not have a value for the previous financial year—

•the value of the land for the financial year

•multiplied by the 2-year averaging number.

(2)The 2-year averaging number, for a financial year, is the number calculated to 2 decimal places by using the formula—

      where—

T is the total of the values of all rateable land in Brisbane for the financial year and the previous financial year.

V is the value of all rateable land in Brisbane for the financial year.

69Working out the 3-year averaged value

(1)The 3-year averaged value of land for a financial year is the amount that equals—

(a)if the land had a value for the 2 previous financial years—

•the sum of the value of the land for each of the 2 previous years

•plus the value of the land for the financial year

•divided by 3; or

(b)if the land did not have a value for the 2 previous financial years—

•the value of the land for the financial year

•multiplied by the 3-year averaging number.

(2)The 3-year averaging number, for a financial year, is the number calculated to 2 decimal places by using the formula—

      where—

T is the total of the values of all rateable land in Brisbane for the financial year and the previous 2 financial years.

V is the value of all rateable land in Brisbane for the financial year.

70Minimum general rates for land generally

(1)The council may fix a minimum amount of general rates.

(2)The council may identify parcels of rateable land to which a minimum amount of general rates applies in any way the council considers appropriate.

(3)However, the council must not levy minimum general rates for a parcel of land if—

(a)the Land Valuation Act, chapter 2, part 2, division 5, subdivision 3, applies to the parcel of land; and

Editor’s note—

Land Valuation Act, chapter 2, part 2, division 5, subdivision 3 (Discounting for subdivided land not yet developed (non-Land Act rental))

(b)the discounted valuation period for the parcel of land has not ended under that subdivision.

(4)Generally, the same minimum amount of general rates must apply to all rateable land in Brisbane.

(5)However, the council may fix a different minimum amount of general rates only for—

(a)if there are different rating categories of rateable land for Brisbane, each different rating category; or

(b)timeshare property; or

(c)any of the following—

(i)a mining lease granted for mining for minerals over land that is not larger than 2ha;

(ii)a mining lease granted for a purpose that is associated with mining for minerals over land that is not larger than 4ha; or

(d)land that is subject to a mining claim, subject to section 72.

(6)For subsection (5)(a), if the council fixes a different minimum amount of general rates for different rating categories, the same minimum amount of general rates must apply to all rateable land belonging to a particular rating category.

71Minimum general rates on timeshare property

(1)This section applies to the council for fixing a minimum amount of general rates on—

(a)land where there is a structure wholly or partially subject to a timeshare scheme; or

(b)a lot included in a community titles scheme under the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 where there is a structure wholly or partially subject to a timeshare scheme; or

(c)a lot within the meaning of a community titles Act other than the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 where there is a structure wholly or partially subject to a timeshare scheme.

(2)The council may decide the minimum amount of general rates is to be worked out using the formula—

MA = L x RU

where—

MA is the minimum amount.

L is the minimum amount of general rates that would, other than for this section, be payable for the land or lot.

RU is the number of units of the structure that are subject to the timeshare scheme and are available at any time for separate exclusive occupation.

72Value of mining claim for fixing minimum general rates

For fixing a minimum amount of general rates for land subject to a mining claim, the value of the mining claim is—

(a)for a mining claim over land that is 900m² or less—$150; or

(b)for a mining claim over land that is larger than 900m²—$450.

73Differential general rates

(1)The council may levy general rates that differ for different categories of rateable land in Brisbane.

(2)These rates are called differential general rates.

(3)For example, the council may decide the amount of the general rates on a parcel of residential land will be more than the general rates on the same size parcel of rural land.

(4)However, the differential general rates for a category of rateable land may be the same as the differential general rates for another category of rateable land.

(5)If the council makes and levies a differential general rate for rateable land for a financial year, the council must not make and levy a general rate for the land for the year.

(6)A differential general rate may be made and levied on a lot under a community titles Act as if it were a parcel of rateable land.

74Categorisation of land for differential general rates

(1)Before the council levies differential general rates, it must decide the different categories (each a rating category) of rateable land in Brisbane.

(2)The council must, by resolution, make the decision at the council’s budget meeting.

(3)The resolution must state—

(a)the rating categories of rateable land in Brisbane; and

(b)a description of each of the rating categories.

Example—

A resolution may state that the rating categories, and a description of each of the rating categories, are as follows—

(a)residential land—land that is used for residential purposes in particular urban centres, rural localities, park residential estates and coastal villages;

(b)commercial and industrial land—land that is used solely for commerce or industry in particular urban centres and rural localities, other than land used for manufacturing sugar or another rural production industry;

(c)grazing and livestock land—land that is used, for commercial purposes, for grazing and livestock;

(d)rural land—

(i)land that is not in an urban centre or locality; or

(ii)land that is not used for grazing and livestock; or

(iii)land that is not sugar cane land or sugar milling land;

(e)other land—any other type of land.

(4)After the rating categories and descriptions have been decided, the council must identify the rating category to which each parcel of rateable land in Brisbane belongs.

(5)The council may do so in any way it considers appropriate.

(6)The fact that some parcels of rateable land are inadvertently not categorised does not stop differential general rates being levied on rateable land that has been categorised.

75Later categorisation

(1)This section applies if—

(a)the council discovers that land has inadvertently not been categorised; or

(b)land becomes rateable land; or

(c)the council considers that the rating category of a parcel of land should be changed, in view of the description of each rating category; or

(d)2 or more parcels of rateable land are amalgamated into a single parcel of rateable land.

(2)The council must decide what rating category the land should be in.

(3)The decision takes effect—

(a)for a decision because of subsection (1)(a)—from the start of the relevant financial year; or

(b)for a decision because of subsection (1)(b)—from the day when the land became rateable land; or

(c)for a decision because of subsection (1)(c)—from the day when the decision is made; or

(d)for a decision because of subsection (1)(d)—from the day when the survey plan of amalgamation is registered by the registrar of titles.

76Appointing categorisation officer

(1)The chief executive officer may appoint a qualified person as a categorisation officer for this division.

(2)For subsection (1), a person is qualified if the person—

(a)has the competencies the chief executive officer considers are necessary to perform the functions that are required to be performed by the person under this division; and

(b)is authorised by the council for this division.

(3)A categorisation officer’s appointment is subject to—

(a)section 78; and

(b)the conditions stated in the document that appoints the categorisation officer.

77Identity card for categorisation officer

(1)The chief executive officer must give each categorisation officer an identity card.

(2)A person who stops being a categorisation officer must return the person’s identity card to the chief executive officer, within 21 days after stopping being a categorisation officer, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty for subsection (2)—10 penalty units.

78Exercise of power of entry

(1)A categorisation officer may enter private property under this division only—

(a)with the permission of the occupier of the property; or

(b)to ask the occupier of the property for permission to stay on the property to exercise the powers under this division; or

(c)with, and in accordance with, a warrant.

(2)Subject to subsection (6), section 118, other than subsections (2)(b) and (4)(a)(ii), of the Act (the applied provision) applies to a categorisation officer for entering private property under subsection (1)(a) or (b).

(3)Subject to subsections (4) and (6), sections 119, other than subsections (5) and (6)(a), and 120 of the Act (also the applied provisions) apply to a categorisation officer for entering private property under subsection (1)(c).

(4)However, a magistrate may issue a warrant for entering private property under this division only if—

(a)the magistrate is satisfied—

(i)the warrant is sought for entering the property for a proper purpose; and

(ii)the occupier of the property has unreasonably refused a request for permission to enter the property under section 118(2) of the Act as applied under subsection (2); and

(b)the warrant states the purpose for which it is issued.

(5)For subsection (4)(a)(i), a proper purpose is to enable any of the following to happen—

(a)the rating categories into which rateable land in Brisbane is to be categorised to be decided;

(b)a description for each of the rating categories to be decided;

(c)the rating category for a parcel of rateable land to be identified;

(d)an objection against the categorisation of rateable land to be decided.

(6)Subject to subsection (7), sections 115, 125 and 126 of the Act (also the applied provisions) apply to a categorisation officer for entering private property under this division.

(7)The applied provisions apply as if—

(a)a reference in the applied provisions to an authorised person were a reference to a categorisation officer; and

(b)a reference in the applied provisions, other than section 126 of the Act, to a local government related law were a reference to this division; and

(c)a reference in the applied provisions to the powers under the Act were a reference to the powers under this division; and

(d)a reference in the applied provisions to the powers or action under chapter 5, part 2, division 1 of the Act were a reference to the powers or action under this division.

Editor’s note—

Sections 115 (Producing authorised person’s identity card), 118 (Entering private property with, and in accordance with, the occupier’s permission), 119 (Entering private property with, and in accordance with, a warrant), 120 (Warrants—applications made electronically), 125 (Authorised person to give notice of damage) and 126 (Compensation for damage or loss caused after entry) of the Act

79End of appointment of categorisation officer

(1)A person stops being a categorisation officer—

(a)at the end of the term of appointment stated in the document that appointed the person; or

(b)if the person gives the council a signed notice of resignation; or

(c)if it is a condition of the person’s appointment that the person hold another position at the same time—if the person stops holding the other position.

(2)This section does not limit the ways in which a categorisation officer’s appointment ends.

80Entering private property with written notice

(1)For the purpose of deciding an appeal relating to the categorisation of land, a Land Court representative may, after giving the occupier of a private property at least 14 days written notice, enter the property, other than a home on the property.

(2)The written notice must inform the occupier of—

(a)the Land Court representative’s intention to enter the property; and

(b)the reason for entering the property; and

(c)the day and time when the property is to be entered.

(3)The Land Court representative may enter the property under subsection (1) at any reasonable time of the day without the permission of the occupier.

(4)Also, as soon as the Land Court representative enters the property, the representative must inform an occupier of the property of the reason for entering the property.

(5)If there is no occupier of the property, this section applies as if a reference to the occupier of the property were a reference to an owner of the property.

(6)In this section—

Land Court representative means each of the following persons—

(a)a member of the Land Court;

(b)a person authorised in writing by a member of the Land Court for this section.

81Notice to owner of categorisation

(1)This section applies if the council decides to levy differential general rates on rateable land for a financial year.

(2)The council must ensure each of the following rate notices (a relevant rate notice) is accompanied by, or contains, a rating category statement—

(a)the first rate notice for the financial year given to the owner of the land;

(b)a later rate notice for the financial year if—

(i)the owner of the land has changed since the first rate notice for the financial year was issued; or

(ii)the rating category for the land has changed since the first rate notice for the financial year was issued.

(3)However, a rating category statement may also accompany, or be contained in, a rate notice other than a relevant rate notice.

Note—

For subsections (2) and (3), see section 100(2) for how a rating category statement may be given electronically.

(4)The rating category statement is a document stating—

(a)the rating categories for land in Brisbane, and a description of each of the rating categories; and

(b)the rating category for the land (the owner’s land) described in the rate notice accompanying or containing the rating category statement; and

(c)that the owner may object to the categorisation of the owner’s land only on the ground that the rating category is wrong in reference to the council’s descriptions of the rating categories; and

(d)that the owner may object by giving the council an objection notice within—

(i)30 days after the date when the first rate notice was issued; or

(ii)a longer period that the council allows; and

(e)that the owner is liable to pay the amount in the rate notice even if the owner gives an objection notice; and

(f)that, if the rating category of the owner’s land is changed because of the objection, the rates will be adjusted at that time.

s 81 amd 2017 SL No. 65 s 3

82What div 4 is about

(1)This division is about an owner of land making an objection, or starting an appeal, relating to the rating category for the land.

(2)However, the making of an objection, or the starting of an appeal, does not stop the levying and recovery of rates on the land.

83Land owner’s objection to rates category

(1)This section applies if an owner of rateable land wants to object to the rating category for the land that is stated in a rate notice for the land.

(2)The only ground for objecting is that the owner considers the land should belong to a different rating category.

(3)The owner may object by giving the council an objection notice.

(4)An objection notice is a document, in a form approved by the council, stating—

(a)the rating category that the owner claims the land should belong to; and

(b)the facts and circumstances on which the owner makes that claim.

(5)The owner must give the objection notice within—

(a)30 days after the day when the rate notice was issued; or

(b)a longer period that the council allows.

84Decision on a land owner’s objection

(1)This section applies if the owner of rateable land properly objects to the rating category for the land.

(2)The chief executive officer must consider the objection and decide—

(a)to change the rating category for the land—

(i)to the rating category to which the owner claims in the objection notice the land should belong; or

(ii)to another rating category; or

(b)not to allow the objection.

(3)The chief executive officer must give the owner notice of—

(a)the decision; and

(b)the reasons for the decision.

(4)The chief executive officer must give the notice within 60 days after the objection was made.

(5)If the chief executive officer decides to change the rating category of the land, the rating category is taken to have been changed from the start of the period of the rate notice.

85Land owner’s appeal against decision

(1)This section applies if the owner of rateable land wants to appeal against a decision of—

(a)the council not to allow a longer period for giving an objection notice; or

(b)the chief executive officer on the owner’s objection to the rating category for the land.

(2)The owner may appeal by filing an appeal notice in the Land Court registry, within 42 days after the day when the owner received notice of the decision.

(3)The appeal notice must be in the form approved by the Land Court.

(4)The owner must give a copy of the filed appeal notice to the council, within 7 days after the appeal notice was filed.

(5)If the owner fails to do so, it does not affect the making of the appeal, or the jurisdiction of the Land Court to decide the appeal, but the court may award costs against the owner for any adjournment that is caused by the owner’s failure.

86Decision on a land owner’s appeal

(1)For an appeal under this division, the Land Court is constituted by 1 member.

(2)The Land Court—

(a)must conduct the appeal with a view to its prompt disposal; and

(b)must observe natural justice; and

(c)is not bound by the rules of evidence.

(3)The Land Court may decide to—

(a)if the appeal is against the decision of the council not to allow a longer period for giving an objection notice—

(i)allow a longer period for giving an objection notice; or

(ii)not allow the appeal; or

(b)if the appeal is against the decision of the chief executive officer on the owner’s objection to the rating category for the land—

(i)change the rating category for the land; or

(ii)not allow the appeal.

(4)If the Land Court decides to change the rating category for the land, the rating category is taken to have been changed from the start of the period of the rate notice.

87Levying special rates or charges

(1)This section applies if the council decides to levy special rates or charges.

Note—

See the Act, section 94(3) (Types of rates and charges), definition special rates and charges.

(2)The council’s resolution to levy special rates or charges must identify—

(a)the rateable land to which the special rates or charges apply; and

(b)the overall plan for the service, facility or activity to which the special rates or charges apply.

(3)The overall plan is a document that—

(a)describes the service, facility or activity; and

(b)identifies the rateable land to which the special rates or charges apply; and

(c)states the estimated cost of carrying out the overall plan; and

(d)states the estimated time for carrying out the overall plan.

(4)The council must adopt the overall plan before, or at the same time as, the council first resolves to levy the special rates or charges.

(5)Under an overall plan, special rates or charges may be levied for 1 or more years before any of the special rates or charges are spent in carrying out the overall plan.

(6)If an overall plan is for more than 1 year, the council must also adopt an annual implementation plan for each year.

(7)An annual implementation plan for a financial year is a document setting out the actions or processes that are to be carried out in the financial year for the service, facility or activity to which the special rates or charges apply.

(8)The council must adopt the annual implementation plan before or at the budget meeting for each year of the period for carrying out the overall plan.

(9)The council may at any time, by resolution, amend—

(a)an overall plan; or

(b)an annual implementation plan.

(10)The council may fix a minimum amount of the special rates or charges.

(11)Subsection (12) applies if the council decides to levy special rates or charges on particular rateable land for a service, facility or activity.

(12)The amount of the special rates or charges for the particular rateable land may be different to the amount for other rateable land because, in the council’s opinion—

(a)the land or its occupier—

(i)specially benefits from the service, facility or activity; or

(ii)has or will have special access to the service, facility or activity; or

(b)the land is or will be used in a way that specially contributes to the need for the service, facility or activity; or

(c)the occupier of the land specially contributes to the need for the service, facility or activity.

(13)For subsection (12), the council may levy the special rates or charges on any basis the council considers appropriate.

(14)In any proceedings about special rates or charges, a resolution or overall plan mentioned in subsection (2) is not invalid merely because the resolution or plan—

(a)does not identify all rateable land on which the special rates or charges could have been levied; or

(b)incorrectly includes rateable land on which the special rates or charges should not have been levied.

(15)To remove any doubt, it is declared that the council may make and levy a special rate or charge for a service, facility or activity whether or not supplied or undertaken by the council itself, including a service, facility or activity supplied or undertaken by another local government—

(a)in the other local government’s local government area; and

(b)conducted as a joint government activity by the council and the other local government.

s 87 amd 2014 SL No. 290 s 6

88Carrying special rates or charges forward to a later financial year

(1)This section applies if the council does not spend all of the special rates or charges that are raised in a financial year in carrying out an annual implementation plan.

(2)The council may carry the unspent special rates or charges forward for spending under an annual implementation plan in a later financial year.

89Surplus special rates or charges after plan is carried out

(1)This section applies if—

(a)the council implements an overall plan; and

(b)the council has not spent all the special rates or charges.

(2)The council must, as soon as practicable, pay the unspent special rates or charges to the current owners of the land on which the special rates or charges were levied.

(3)The payments to the current owners must be in the same proportions as the special rates or charges were last levied.

90Surplus special rates or charges after plan is cancelled

(1)This section applies if—

(a)the council decides to cancel an overall plan before it is carried out; and

(b)the council has not spent all the special rates or charges.

(2)The council must, as soon as practicable, pay the unspent special rates or charges to the current owners of the land on which the special rates or charges were levied.

(3)The council must pay the current owners—

(a)if the overall plan identifies the beneficiaries of the plan—in the proportions that the council, by resolution, decides; or

(b)if the overall plan does not identify the beneficiaries of the plan—in the same proportions as the special rates or charges were last levied.

(4)The council must decide the proportions having regard to—

(a)the proportions in which the special rates or charges were last levied; and

(b)the extent to which the rateable land, or the owners of the rateable land, will benefit from or have access to the service, facility or activity.

(5)The beneficiaries of the plan are the owners of the rateable land that will benefit from or have access to the service, facility or activity.

91Returning special rates or charges incorrectly levied

(1)This section applies if a rate notice includes special rates or charges that were levied on land to which the special rates or charges do not apply or should not have been levied.

(2)The rate notice is not invalid, but the council must, as soon as practicable, return the special rates or charges to the person who paid the special rates or charges.

s 91 amd 2014 SL No. 290 s 7

92Utility charges

(1)The council may levy utility charges on any basis the council considers appropriate.

(2)For example, utility charges may be levied on the basis of any, or any combination, of the following—

(a)the rateable value of land;

(b)the use made of—

(i)a particular parcel of land; or

(ii)a particular structure; or

(iii)a class of land or structure;

(c)any circumstances that are peculiar to the supply of a service to—

(i)a particular parcel of land; or

(ii)a particular structure; or

(iii)a class of land or structure.

(3)The council may do 1 or both of the following—

(a)levy utility charges for services that have been supplied or are to be supplied during part of the financial year and part of another financial year;

(b)levy differing utility charges for services that have been supplied or are to be supplied during various periods in 1 or more financial years, and decide the way the charges are to be apportioned.

(4)However, the council may only levy utility charges for services—

(a)supplied in the last financial year; or

(b)supplied, or to be supplied, in the current financial year; or

(c)to be supplied in the next financial year.

93Utility charges before facilities are constructed

(1)The council may, in a financial year (the current financial year), levy utility charges for supplying a service before the facility for supplying the service has been constructed if—

(a)the council reasonably believes the service will be supplied in the next financial year; and

(b)the council—

(i)has started constructing the facility; or

(ii)intends to start constructing the facility during the next financial year, and has included the funds that are necessary for construction in its annual budget for the current financial year.

(2)The utility charges are not invalid only because the service is not supplied in the next financial year for reasons beyond the council’s control.

94Reading meters for utility charges

(1)This section is about the reading of meters for utility charges.

(2)The council may, by resolution, decide a meter is taken to have been read during the period that starts 2 weeks before, and ends 2 weeks after, the day on which the meter is actually read.

Example—

In calculating utility charges for a period ending on 30 April, if a meter is read on 10 May, the meter reading is taken to be the meter reading on 30 April.

(3)This section does not limit the council’s power to make local laws about other aspects of the administration of the metered consumption of a utility service.

(4)In this section—

meter includes any measuring device.

95Levying separate rates or charges

(1)This section applies if the council decides to levy separate rates or charges.

(2)For levying rates under subsection (1), the council may fix a minimum amount of the rates.

(3)To remove any doubt, it is declared that the council may levy separate rates or charges for a service, facility or activity, whether or not the service, facility or activity is supplied by the council.

96Rate notice for rates or charges

(1)The council may levy rates or charges only by a rate notice.

(2)A rate notice is a document stating—

(a)the date when the rate notice is issued; and

(b)the due date for payment of the rates or charges; and

(c)if the council has decided a discount applies to the rates or charges—

(i)the terms of the discount; and

(ii)the last day of the discount period; and

(d)if the council has decided rates or charges may be paid by instalments—the requirements for paying by instalments; and

(e)the ways in which the rates or charges may be paid.

97Other amounts under rate notice

(1)A rate notice may also include an amount, other than an amount for rates or charges, payable to the council.

Example—

a licence fee payable to the council

(2)However, the rate notice must make it clear that—

(a)the amount is not for rates or charges; and

(b)payment of the amount, whether before or after the end of any discount period, does not affect any discount that applies to the rates or charges.

98Entities to whom rate notice must be given

A rate notice must be given—

(a)for services supplied to a structure, or to land that is not rateable land—to the entity who asked for the service to be supplied; and

(b)in any other case—to the entity who is recorded in the council’s land record as the owner of the land on which the rates are levied.

Note—

See part 13 for more information on the land record.

99Issue of and period covered by rate notice

(1)A rate notice may only be issued—

(a)for utility charges, for a period of at least 1 month, that the council considers appropriate; and

(b)for other rates or charges, for the whole or part of a financial year as the council considers appropriate.

(2)However, the rate notice for the rates mentioned in subsection (1)(b) must be issued for the same period for all ratepayers.

(3)If a person who is liable to pay rates or charges for a period pays the rates or charges before the council gives the person a rate notice for the period, the council is not required to give the person a rate notice for the period.

(4)However, the council must, at least once each year, issue a rate notice for each parcel of rateable land for a period of no longer than a financial year.

100Electronic issue of rate notice and rating category statement

(1)A rate notice may be given electronically to a person if—

(a)the person has given consent to the notice being given electronically; and

(b)at the time the notice was given, it was reasonable for the council to expect the notice would be readily accessible so as to be useable for subsequent reference by the person.

(2)If a rate notice is given to a person electronically under subsection (1), a rating category statement that must or may accompany, or be contained in, the rate notice under section 81(2) or (3) may be given electronically to the person—

(a)with the rate notice; or

(b)by including the rating category statement in the notice; or

(c)by giving the person electronic access to the rating category statement.

Example for paragraph (c)—

providing the person a message stating that the statement is available to read by opening a stated hyperlink

(3)Subsection (2)(c) applies despite section 81(2) or (3).

s 100 amd 2017 SL No. 65 s 4

101What div 2 is about

This division is about the council adjusting the amount of rates or charges that have already been levied on land because particular changes happen.

102Land stops being rateable land

If the land becomes, or stops being, rateable land, the council must adjust the rates so that the rates are calculated only on the period when the land was rateable land.

103Change in value

If the value of the land changes under the Land Valuation Act, the council must adjust the rates so that the rates are calculated on the new value of the land for the period that starts on the day the change takes effect under that Act.

104Change in rating category

If the land is given a rating category, including a change of rating category, the council must adjust the general rates so that the rates are calculated on the new or changed rating category for the period that starts on the day the land was given the new or changed rating category.

105Special rates become or stop being payable

If the land becomes, or stops being, land on which the council may levy special rates or charges, the council must adjust the rates or charges so that the rates or charges are calculated on the period when the land was land on which the council could levy special rates or charges.

106Loss of entitlement to occupy land from State

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a person is entitled to occupy land under a lease, licence or permission given by the State; and

(b)the person loses the entitlement, including, for example, because the lease, licence or permission expires or is surrendered or forfeited.

(2)The council must adjust the rates or charges so that the rates or charges are calculated only for the period when the person was entitled to occupy the land.

107Rates or charges paid before adjustment

If the rates or charges are paid before they are adjusted, the council—

(a)if the rates or charges are reduced—must refund the overpaid amount of rates or charges; or

(b)if the rates or charges are increased—may recover the amount of rates or charges owing.

108Limitation of increase in rates or charges levied

(1)When the council resolves to levy rates or charges, it also may resolve to limit the increase in the rates or charges.

(2)The rates or charges may be limited to not more than—

(a)if the rates or charges for the last financial year were for a full year—

(i)the rates or charges for the last financial year; or

(ii)the rates or charges for the last financial year, increased by a stated percentage; or

(b)if the rates or charges levied for the last financial year were not for a full year—

(i)the corresponding annual amount for the rates or charges for the last financial year; or

(ii)the corresponding annual amount for the rates or charges for the last financial year, increased by a stated percentage.

(3)The corresponding annual amount is the amount worked out by—

(a)converting the amount of the rates or charges levied for the last financial year to a daily amount; and

(b)multiplying the daily amount by 365.

(4)The resolution may specify different percentages for—

(a)different land or classes of land; or

(b)different rates or charges.

108ALimitation of increase in rates or charges levied continues after compulsory acquisition of land

(1)This section applies if—

(a)the council resolves, under section 108, to limit the increase in the rates or charges levied on rateable land (a rates cap); and

(b)part of the rateable land is—

(i)compulsorily acquired by a government entity; or

(ii)otherwise acquired by the department administering the Transport Planning and Coordination Act 1994.

(2)Until the council resolves otherwise, the rates and charges levied on the remainder are reduced to the divided amount.

(3)However, the resolution can not be made before the next budget meeting of the council that occurs after the application of the rates cap.

(4)In this section—

compulsorily acquired, for part of rateable land, means acquired under an Act, or a law of the Commonwealth, that authorises the compulsory acquisition of land by a government entity.

Example—

land taken under the Acquisition of Land Act 1967

divided amount means the amount worked out by—

(a)dividing the amount of the rates or charges levied on the rateable land by the number of square metres of the rateable land; and

(b)multiplying the amount calculated under paragraph (a) by the number of square metres of the remainder.

government entity means the State, the Commonwealth, a local government or an entity authorised by the State, Commonwealth or a local government.

remainder, for rateable land (part of which is acquired in a manner mentioned in subsection (1)(b)), means that part of the rateable land not acquired.

s 108A ins 2014 SL No. 290 s 8

109Rates or charges may be levied or adjusted after end of financial year

The council may levy rates or charges, or adjust a rates or charges levy in a financial year, even though the resolution for making the rates or charges was made for a previous financial year.

110When rates or charges must be paid

(1)The council must decide the date by which, or the period within which, rates or charges must be paid.

(2)The date by which, or the period within which, the rates or charges must be paid must be—

(a)at least 30 days after the rate notice for the rates or charges is issued; and

(b)subject to part 10, the same date or period for each person liable to pay the rates or charges.

(3)The council must, by resolution, make the decision at its budget meeting.

111Concession for rates or charges

The council may grant a ratepayer a concession for rates or charges for land only under this part.

112Criteria for granting concession

(1)The council may grant the concession only if it is satisfied—

(a)the land is owned or occupied by a pensioner; or

(b)the land is owned by—

(i)an entity whose objects do not include making a profit; or

(ii)an entity that provides assistance or encouragement for arts or cultural development; or

(c)the payment of the rates or charges will cause hardship to the land owner; or

(d)the concession will encourage the economic development of Brisbane or a part of Brisbane; or

(e)the concession will encourage land that is of cultural, environmental, historic, heritage or scientific significance to Brisbane to be preserved, restored or maintained; or

(f)the land is used exclusively for the purpose of a single dwelling house or farming and could be used for another purpose, including, for example, a commercial or industrial purpose; or

(g)the land is subject to a GHG tenure, mining tenement or petroleum tenure; or

(h)the land is part of a parcel of land (a parcel) that has been subdivided and—

(i)the person who subdivided the parcel is the owner of the land; and

(ii)the land is not developed land.

(2)In this section—

GHG tenure see the Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2009, section 18(2).

mining tenement see the Mineral Resources Act 1989, schedule 2.

petroleum tenure means—

(a)a petroleum tenure under the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004, section 18(3); or

(b)an authority to prospect or lease under the Petroleum Act 1923.

113Types of concession

The concession may only be of the following types—

(a)a rebate of all or part of the rates or charges;

(b)an agreement to defer payment of the rates or charges;

(c)an agreement to accept a transfer of unencumbered land in full or part payment of the rates or charges.

114Resolutions for granting concession

(1)The council may grant the concession only by—

(a)a resolution granting the concession to a stated ratepayer; or

(b)if the concession is of a type mentioned in section 113(a) or (b)—a resolution granting the concession to a ratepayer who is a member of a stated class of ratepayers.

(2)The council may make the resolution before it levies the rates or charges.

(3)The council may make a resolution under subsection (1)(a) only if the ratepayer has applied for the concession in a way accepted by the council.

(4)If the council grants a concession by making a resolution under subsection (1)(b), the concession may be granted only to the ratepayers whom the council is satisfied are eligible for the concession.

(5)The resolution may include conditions for granting the concession to the ratepayer.

(6)Without limiting subsection (5), the conditions may include the following—

(a)a condition requiring the ratepayer to show the council particular information or documents or follow a procedure to be eligible for the concession;

Examples—

•a condition requiring the ratepayer to produce a health care card or pensioner concession card to show the ratepayer’s eligibility for the concession for the rates or charges

•a condition requiring the ratepayer to enter an agreement to defer payment of rates or charges in a form required by the council

(b)a condition limiting the period for which the ratepayer is granted the concession.

Example—

for a concession on the basis of the ratepayer’s receipt of a disability support pension, a condition limiting the concession to the period for which the ratepayer receives the pension

115Special provision for rebate for land occupied by pensioners

(1)The council may grant a rebate of rates or charges for land occupied only by pensioners only if the land owner agrees to pass the benefit of the rebate on to the pensioners.

(2)The council may grant a rebate of rates or charges for land that is occupied by pensioners and other persons, only—

(a)for that part of the rates or charges that the council considers is fairly attributable to the part of the land where pensioners have a right to exclusive occupancy; and

(b)if the land owner agrees to pass the benefit of the rebate on to the pensioners.

116Refund of rebated rates or charges already paid

(1)This section applies if—

(a)the council grants a rebate of rates or charges to a ratepayer or a ratepayer who is a member of a class of ratepayers; and

(b)the ratepayer has already paid the rates or charges.

(2)The council must refund the amount of the rebated rates or charges to the ratepayer.

117Special provision for agreement to defer rates or charges

(1)This section applies if a concession to a ratepayer for rates or charges includes an agreement to defer the payment of the rates or charges.

(2)The agreement must state either—

(a)for an agreement under which the rates or charges become payable on a particular day—the due date for payment of the rates or charges; or

(b)for an agreement under which the rates or charges become payable when an event happens—a description of the event and the due date for payment of the rates or charges in reference to the event.

Example—

An agreement provides for general rates for land to be paid at the end of a stated period after the land is transmitted to the ratepayer’s personal representative or sold.

(3)The agreement may also include a condition that the ratepayer must pay an additional charge in return for the council agreeing to defer payment of the rates or charges.

118Special provision for agreement to accept land transfer

(1)This section applies if a concession to a ratepayer for rates or charges includes an agreement to accept a transfer of unencumbered land in full or part payment of the rates or charges.

(2)The agreement must state the due date for payment of the rates or charges.

119Who must pay rates and charges

(1)Subject to section 155, the following persons are liable to pay rates and charges—

(a)for rateable land—the current owner of the land, even if that owner did not own the land during the period to which the rates or charges relate;

(b)for a service that is supplied to a structure, or to land that is not rateable land—the entity who asked for the service to be supplied;

(c)for previously rateable land—the owner of the land immediately before it stopped being rateable land.

(2)Previously rateable land is land that was, but has stopped being, rateable land because—

(a)the tenure of a holding is terminated; or

(b)the land is surrendered or forfeited to the State; or

(c)the land is acquired by the State or the Commonwealth; or

(d)the land is exempted from rating; or

(e)the property description of the land no longer exists.

(3)If more than 1 person is liable to pay rates or charges, all the persons are jointly and severally liable to pay the rates or charges.

120Paying part of rates and charges

(1)This section applies if a person—

(a)pays the council an amount that is less than the total of all amounts mentioned in a rate notice; and

(b)does not specify which of the amounts the person is paying.

(2)The council must use the amount to pay the amounts mentioned in the rate notice in the following order—

(a)overdue rates or charges, starting with the rates or charges that have been overdue the longest;

(b)rates or charges stated in the rate notice;

(c)amounts, other than rates or charges, that are payable to the council.

121Paying rates or charges by instalments

(1)The council may decide to allow ratepayers to pay rates or charges by instalments.

(2)The council must, by resolution, make the decision at its budget meeting.

(3)The resolution must state—

(a)the periods for payment of each instalment of the rates or charges; and

(b)any other requirements for paying the rates or charges by instalments.

(4)The requirements may include a requirement for the ratepayer to pay an additional charge in return for paying the rates or charges by instalments.

(5)The resolution may state a discount for paying an instalment of the rates or charges within the period for paying the instalment.

122Discount for prompt payment of rates or charges

(1)The council may decide to allow a discount for payment of rates or charges before the end of the discount period.

(2)The amount of the discount and the discount period may differ for different rating categories of rateable land.

(3)The discount period is a period that ends on or before the due date for payment.

Examples of discount period—

•1 month before the due date for payment

•a period of 1 month ending 2 weeks before the due date for payment

(4)The council must, by resolution, make the decision at its budget meeting.

(5)The resolution must state—

(a)whether the discount is to be—

(i)a fixed amount; or

(ii)a percentage of the rates or charges; and

(b)if the discount is to be a fixed amount—the amount; and

(c)if the discount is to be a percentage of the rates or charges—the percentage; and

(d)whether the discount applies only if—

(i)other rates or charges are paid; or

(ii)an amount, including any interest on the amount, is paid for work that was performed by the council under a remedial notice issued under the Act; and

(e)the discount period.

(6)The council may allow more than 1 discount period for rates or charges only if the council’s resolution—

(a)states more than 1 discount period for the rates or charges; and

(b)allows a different discount for each discount period.

(7)The council may, by resolution, change the discount period to end on a later day (the new discount day).

(8)However, if the discount period is changed under subsection (6), the council must also, by resolution, change the due date for payment to a later day that is no earlier than the new discount day.

(9)If the council decides to allow a discount for a discount period, it must allow the discount to all ratepayers who pay the rates or charges before the end of the discount period.

(10)If the council is satisfied a ratepayer has been prevented, by circumstances beyond their control, from paying the rates or charges in time to get a discount, the council may still allow the discount.

(11)A ratepayer is not entitled to a discount for paying in full rates or charges for land by the end of a discount period if other rates or charges for the land are overdue.

123Other benefits for prompt payment

The council may give a benefit that is not a discount as an inducement for payment of rates or charges before the due date for payment.

Examples of a benefit—

•free use of the council’s services, facilities or activities

•an opportunity to win a donated car, holiday or other prize

124What are overdue rates or charges and when do they become overdue

(1)Overdue rates or charges are made up of—

(a)either of the following—

(i)subject to subparagraph (ii), rates or charges that are not paid by the due date for payment stated in the rates notice;

(ii)if a ratepayer is granted a concession for rates or charges of a type mentioned in section 113(b) or (c)—rates or charges that are not paid by the due date stated in the agreement to which the concession relates; and

(b)if the council takes the ratepayer to court to recover rates or charges and the court orders the ratepayer to pay the council’s costs—the costs; and

(c)if the council decides to sell land under section 132 and the land is not sold within 1 year after the council gives the registered owner a notice of intention to sell—the expenses incurred by the council in relation to selling the land; and

(d)the interest, if interest is payable, on the rates or charges, or costs.

(2)Subject to subsection (3), the rates or charges mentioned in subsection (1)(a)(i) become overdue on the day after the due date for payment of the rates or charges stated in the rates notice.

(3)Subject to subsections (4) to (6), the rates or charges mentioned in subsection (1)(a)(ii) become overdue on the day after the due date for payment of the rates or charges stated in the agreement to which the concession relates.

(4)Subsection (5) applies if—

(a)rates or charges are not paid before the due date stated in the rates notice for the rates or charges; and

(b)a concession of a type mentioned in section 113(b) or (c) is granted after the due date; and

(c)the rates or charges are not paid by the due date stated in the agreement to which the concession relates.

(5)The rates or charges are taken to have become overdue on the day after the due date stated in the rates notice for the rates or charges.

(6)If an agreement deferring payment of rates or charges includes a condition about when the rates or charges become payable, the rates or charges can become overdue only if the condition is satisfied.

Example—

An agreement to defer payment of general rates for land provides that the rates become payable within a stated period after the land is sold. The rates or charges can become overdue only if the land is sold.

(7)The expenses mentioned in subsection (1)(c) become overdue 1 year after the notice of intention to sell is given to the registered owner.

s 124 amd 2020 SL No. 244 s 5

125Interest on overdue rates or charges

(1)Interest is payable on overdue rates or charges from—

(a)the day the rates or charges become overdue; or

(b)a later day decided by the council.

(2)Interest must be calculated—

(a)on daily rests and as compound interest; or

(b)in another way the council decides, if an equal or lower amount will be payable.

(3)The rate of interest payable is—

(a)for a day before 1 July 2019—an annual rate, of not more than 11%, decided by the council; or

(b)for a day on or after 1 July 2019—an annual rate, of not more than the prescribed rate for the day, decided by the council.

(4)A decision of the council under this section must—

(a)apply equally to all ratepayers; and

(b)for a decision under subsection (3)(b)—be made by resolution at the council’s budget meeting for the financial year that includes the day to which the decision relates.

(5)In this section—

bank bill yield rate, for a day, means the monthly average yield of 90-day bank accepted bills published by the Reserve Bank of Australia for the month of March in the financial year immediately before the financial year in which the day occurs.

Editor’s note—

The monthly average yield of 90-day bank accepted bills can be accessed on the Reserve Bank of Australia’s website.

prescribed rate, for a day, means the rate that is the sum of—

(a)the bank bill yield rate for the day, rounded to 2 decimal places; and

(b)8%.

s 125 sub 2019 SL No. 39 s 7

126Court proceedings for overdue rates or charges

(1)The council may recover overdue rates or charges by bringing court proceedings for a debt against a person who is liable to pay the overdue rates or charges.

(2)If the council does so, but does not recover all of the overdue rates or charges from the person, the council may recover the remaining overdue rates or charges from any other person who is liable to pay the overdue rates or charges (for example, a joint owner).

(3)If a court orders a person to pay overdue rates or charges, and the person fails to comply with the court order, the person is not liable to imprisonment for the failure.

127Selling or acquiring land ends liability for overdue rates or charges

If the council sells or acquires land for overdue rates or charges, the council can not start or continue any court proceedings to recover the overdue rates or charges.

128What div 3 is about

This division is about the power of the council to sell or acquire land for overdue rates or charges.

129Reference to market value

(1)A reference in this division to the market value of land includes a reference to the market value of the land and any improvements on the land.

(2)A written report about the market value of land from a valuer registered under the Valuers Registration Act 1992 who is not a council employee is evidence of the market value of the land.

130Selling land that is subject to a State encumbrance

(1)This section applies if—

(a)the council intends to sell land under this subdivision; and

(b)the land is subject to a State encumbrance.

(2)A State encumbrance is an encumbrance on land that gives the State or a government entity an interest in the land, including, for example—

(a)a mortgage; or

(b)an interest that arises under a Housing Act contract.

(3)The council must give the State or government entity that has the interest in the land under the State encumbrance a notice of the council’s intention to sell the land, before the council sells the land.

(4)The council may sell the land only—

(a)subject to the State encumbrance; or

(b)free of the State encumbrance to the extent, and on any conditions (the sale conditions), to which the State or government entity agrees.

(5)If the land is subject to an interest arising under a Housing Act contract, the council may sell the land free of the interest only if the sale conditions include a condition that the council pays the State an amount for—

(a)the State’s interest in the land; and

(b)any amount that is owing to the State under the contract.

131Selling land that is subject to other restrictions

(1)This section applies if—

(a)the council intends to sell land under this subdivision; and

(b)the land is held on a tenure that requires the holder of the land to have—

(i)particular qualifications; or

(ii)the agreement or permission of a particular government entity.

(2)The council may sell the land only to a person who has—

(a)the particular qualifications; or

(b)the agreement or permission of the government entity.

132Notice of intention to sell land for overdue rates or charges

(1)This section applies if—

(a)there are overdue rates or charges on land; and

(b)the liability to pay the overdue rates or charges is not the subject of court proceedings; and

(c)some or all of the overdue rates or charges have been overdue for at least—

(i)generally—3 years; or

(ii)if the rates or charges were levied on vacant land or land used only for commercial purposes, and the council has obtained judgment for the overdue rates or charges—1 year; or

(iii)if the rates or charges were levied on a mining claim—3 months.

(2)The council may, by resolution, decide to sell the land.

(3)If the council does so, the council must, as soon as practicable, give all interested parties a notice of intention to sell the land.

(4)A notice of intention to sell is a document, signed by the chief executive officer, stating—

(a)that the council has, by resolution, decided under this section to sell land for overdue rates or charges; and

(b)the day on which the resolution was made; and

(c)the terms of the resolution; and

(d)a description of the location and size of the land, as shown in the council’s land record; and

(e)details of the overdue rates or charges for the land, as at the date of the notice, including details of the period for which the rates or charges have been unpaid; and

(f)details of the interest that is owing on the overdue rates or charges, as at the date of the notice, including—

(i)details of the rate at which interest is payable on the rates or charges; and

(ii)a description of the way the interest is calculated; and

(g)the total amount of overdue rates or charges and the interest, as at the date of the notice; and

(h)a copy, or a general outline, of sections 133 to 136.

133When procedures for selling land must start and end

(1)This section applies if—

(a)the council decides to sell land under this subdivision for overdue rates and charges and gives the registered owner of the land a notice of intention to sell the land; and

(b)the overdue rates or charges are not paid in full within—

(i)generally—3 months after the council gives the notice of intention to sell the land; or

(ii)if the rates or charges were levied on a mining claim—1 month after the council gives the notice of intention to sell the land.

(2)The council must start the procedures mentioned in section 134(4) for selling the land within 6 months after the council gives the notice of intention to sell the land to the registered owner of the land.

(3)The council must end the procedures at the earliest of the following—

(a)the council is paid—

(i)the amount of the overdue rates or charges; and

(ii)all expenses that the council incurs in attempting to sell the land;

(b)the land is sold;

(c)1 year after the notice of intention to sell is given to the registered owner.

(4)If the council ends the procedures under subsection (3)(c), nothing in this section prevents the council from deciding to sell the land again under section 132(2).

s 133 amd 2020 SL No. 244 s 6

134Procedures for selling land

(1)This section sets out the procedures that the council must follow when selling land for overdue rates or charges.

(2)The council must first offer the land for sale by auction.

(3)The council must prepare an auction notice.

(4)At least 14 days, but not more than 35 days, before the day of the auction, the council must—

(a)give a copy of the auction notice to everyone who was given a notice of intention to sell the land; and

(b)publish the auction notice on the council’s website; and

(c)display the auction notice in a conspicuous place in the council’s public office, until the day of the auction; and

(d)display the auction notice in a conspicuous place on the land unless it is not reasonably practicable to do so because the land is in a remote location or difficult to access; and

(e)take all reasonable steps to publish the auction notice in another way to notify the public about the sale of the land.

Examples of other ways to publish the auction notice—

publish the auction notice in a newspaper that is circulating generally in Brisbane or on a real estate trading website

(5)However, if—

(a)the land is a building unit; and

(b)it is not practicable to display the auction notice in a conspicuous place on the land;

the notice may be displayed in a conspicuous part of the common property for the building units.

(6)In this section—

auction notice, for a sale of land by auction, means a written notice stating—

(a)the day, time and place of the auction; and

(b)a full description of the land.

s 134 amd 2020 SL No. 244 s 7

135Conduct of auction

(1)The council must set a reserve price for the land at the auction that is at least—

(a)the market value of the land; or

(b)the higher of the following—

(i)the amount of overdue rates or charges on the land;

(ii)the value of the land.

(2)If the reserve price for the land is not reached at the auction, the council may enter into negotiations with any bidder who attended the auction to sell the land by agreement.

(3)However, the price for the land under the agreement must not be less than the reserve price for the land.

s 135 amd 2020 SL No. 244 s 8

136Procedures for selling land by another auction or negotiation

(1)The council may, after the day of the auction, decide to continue to offer the land for sale by another auction, or sale by negotiation, under this section.

(2)The council must end any negotiations entered into under section 135(2) when it makes a decision under subsection (1).

(3)Sections 134(3) to (5) and 135 apply to the preparation and conduct of any subsequent sale by auction under this section.

(4)The council must prepare a sales notice if it decides to offer the land for sale by negotiation under this section.

(5)The council must—

(a)give a copy of the sales notice to each interested party who was given a notice of intention to sell the land; and

(b)publish the sales notice on the council’s website; and

(c)display the sales notice in a conspicuous place in the council’s public office; and

(d)display the sales notice in a conspicuous place on the land unless it is not reasonably practicable to do so because the land is in a remote location or difficult to access; and

(e)take all reasonable steps to publish the sales notice in another way to notify the public about the sale of the land.

Examples of other ways to publish the sales notice—

publish the sales notice in a newspaper that is circulating generally in Brisbane or on a real estate trading website

(6)However, if—

(a)the land is a building unit; and

(b)it is not practicable to display the sales notice in a conspicuous place on the land;

      the notice may be displayed in a conspicuous part of the common property for the building units.

(7)The council must ensure that the price for land offered for sale by negotiation under this section is at least—

(a)the market value of the land; or

(b)the higher of the following—

(i)the amount of overdue rates or charges on the land;

(ii)the value of the land.

(8)In this section—

sales notice, for a sale of land by negotiation, means a written notice stating—

(a)the land is for sale by negotiation; and

(b)a full description of the land.

s 136 sub 2020 SL No. 244 s 9

137Procedures after sale of land

(1)This section applies if land is sold under this subdivision.

(2)The council must give the registrar of titles an appropriate form stating—

(a)that the land has been sold under this subdivision; and

(b)the full description of the land; and

(c)the full name and address of the purchaser of the land; and

(d)the purchase price of the land.

(3)An appropriate form is a form approved by the registrar of titles for lodgement in the land registry to record the transfer of land to a purchaser.

(4)After receiving the appropriate form, the registrar of titles must register the transfer of the interest of the registered owner to the purchaser free of all encumbrances.

(5)The registrar of titles may register the transfer even though the appropriate form is not accompanied by the instrument of title for the land.

(6)Also, the registrar of titles—

(a)need not inquire whether the council has complied with this subdivision; and

(b)is not affected by actual or constructive notice of any failure by the council to comply with this subdivision.

s 137 amd 2020 SL No. 244 s 10

138Application of proceeds of sale

(1)The council must use the proceeds of the sale of the land in the following order—

(a)to pay any amount agreed for the release of a State encumbrance under section 130(4)(b) or (5);

(b)to pay the expenses of the sale;

Example of expenses of the sale—

administrative costs incurred by the council

(c)to pay land tax owing on the day of sale;

(d)to pay the overdue rates or charges for the land;

(e)to pay any other amounts relating to the land that the owner of the land owed the council immediately before the sale;

(f)to pay any rates or charges, other than overdue rates or charges, for the land;

(g)to pay any registered encumbrances, other than State encumbrances, in order of their priority under the Land Title Act;

(h)to pay any body corporate fees that the owner of the land owed immediately before the sale;

(i)to pay the person who owned the land immediately before the sale.

(2)If any of the proceeds of sale remain unclaimed after 2 years, the council must pay the proceeds to the public trustee as unclaimed money.

s 138 amd 2013 SL No. 16 s 3

139Council’s failure to comply with this subdivision

(1)This section applies if the council fails to comply with this subdivision.

(2)No person may make a claim against an indemnity fund that is administered by the State for—

(a)any dealing with the land under this subdivision; or

(b)the registration of an interest in the land under this subdivision.

(3)However, this section does not protect—

(a)the council from liability for any loss that is caused by the council’s failure to comply with this subdivision; or

(b)a person who commits fraud or wilful default from liability for any loss that is caused by the person’s fraud or wilful default.

140Application of sdiv 3

This subdivision applies if—

(a)there are overdue rates or charges on land in Brisbane; and

(b)the liability to pay the overdue rates or charges is not the subject of court proceedings; and

(c)some of the overdue rates or charges have been overdue for at least 3 years; and

(d)the person who is liable to pay the overdue rates or charges has an interest in the land that a corporation is not prohibited from holding (for example, a life interest in land); and

(e)either of the following applies—

(i)the total amount of the overdue rates or charges is more than the value of the land and the land is considered to be—

(A)valueless; or

(B)of so little value that, if it were sold, the proceeds of the sale would be less than the amount of the overdue rates or charges;

(ii)the total amount of the overdue rates or charges is more than the market value of the land.

141Requirements for notice of intention to acquire land

(1)The council may, by resolution, decide to acquire the land.

(2)If the council does so, the council must, as soon as practicable, give all interested parties a notice of intention to acquire the land.

(3)A notice of intention to acquire is a document, signed by the chief executive officer, stating—

(a)that the council has, by resolution, decided to acquire land for overdue rates or charges, under this section; and

(b)the day on which the resolution was made; and

(c)the terms of the resolution; and

(d)a description of the location and size of the land, as shown in the council’s land record; and

(e)details of the overdue rates or charges for the land, as at the date of the notice, including details of the period for which the rates or charges are unpaid; and

(f)details of the interest that is owing on the overdue rates or charges, as at the date of the notice, including—

(i)details of the rate at which interest is accruing; and

(ii)a description of the way that the interest is calculated; and

(g)the total amount of the overdue rates or charges and the interest, as at the date of the notice; and

(h)a copy, or general outline, of this section and sections 142 and 143.

142Time to start procedures to acquire

(1)This section applies if—

(a)the council gives, under section 141, a notice of intention to acquire land for overdue rates or charges; and

(b)the overdue rates or charges are not paid in full within 6 months after the council gives the notice of intention to acquire the land.

(2)The council may start the procedures for acquiring the land.

(3)However, the council must end the procedures for acquiring the land if the council is paid—

(a)the amount of the overdue rates or charges; and

(b)all expenses that the council incurs in attempting to acquire the land.

143Acquisition procedures

(1)This section sets out the procedures that the council must follow when acquiring land for overdue rates or charges.

(2)The council must—

(a)discharge the overdue rates or charges payable for the land; and

(b)give the registrar of titles a request, in the appropriate form, to record the council as the registered owner of the land.

(3)After receiving the request, the registrar of titles must record the council as the registered owner of the land free of all encumbrances other than any State encumbrances.

(4)The registrar of titles—

(a)may record the council as the registered owner of the land even if the request is not accompanied by the instrument of title for the land; and

(b)need not inquire whether the council has complied with this subdivision; and

(c)is not affected by actual or constructive notice of any failure by the council to comply with this subdivision.

(5)When the registrar of titles has recorded the council as the registered owner of the land, the council must remove the reference to the land from the land record.

(6)In this section—

appropriate form see the Land Title Act, schedule 2.

144Satisfaction on termination of tenure

(1)This section applies if—

(a)the council is owed rates or charges on land; and

(b)the tenure of a holding is terminated for all or part of the land; and

(c)the State receives an amount from an incoming holder of all or part of the land.

(2)After retaining any amount owing to the State, the State may pay the council an amount for the rates or charges.

145What pt 13 is about

(1)This part is about the council’s land record.

(2)The council uses a land record to identify who is responsible for paying rates or charges for land.

146Land record to be kept

(1)The council must keep a land record.

(2)A land record contains the following information for each parcel of rateable land in its area—

(a)the name and postal address of the owner of the land;

(b)a description of the land, including its location and size;

(c)its value and the day of effect of the relevant valuation under the Land Valuation Act;

(d)information about rates or charges for the land, including about the following—

(i)the type and amounts of rates or charges levied on the land;

(ii)if differential general rates are levied—the rating category of the land;

(iii)the date of each levy and the due date for payment;

(iv)the period for which the rates or charges are levied;

(v)the financial year to which the rates or charges apply;

(vi)concessions granted or discounts given for payment of rates or charges;

(vii)payment of rates or charges by instalments;

(viii)any overdue rates or charges, accrued interest on overdue rates or charges and the interest rate applying to overdue rates or charges;

(ix)the date when rates or charges are paid;

(e)any other information that the council considers appropriate.

147Public may inspect land record

(1)The public may, on payment of the reasonable fee decided by the council, inspect the land record kept by the council.

(2)However, the following persons may inspect particulars of land in the land record free of charge—

(a)an owner, lessee or occupier of—

(i)the land; or

(ii)adjoining land;

(b)the agent of an owner, lessee or occupier of—

(i)the land; or

(ii)adjoining land.

(3)The agent must produce, to the council, written evidence of the agent’s appointment.

(4)The council may—

(a)provide a person with access to an electronic or paper copy of the land record or part of the land record; or

(b)give a person an electronic or paper copy of the land record or part of the land record, including, for example, by sending it by post, email or facsimile.

(5)The council must not include a person’s name and address for service in the land record when it is open to inspection if—

(a)the council has been given a notice about the person under the Land Valuation Act, section 204; and

(b)the relevant suppression direction under that Act is still in effect.

148Amending land record

(1)The chief executive officer must ensure the particulars contained in the land record are amended whenever necessary to ensure the land record is correct and up to date.

(2)If an amendment of the land record changes the rates or charges that are or may be levied on land, the chief executive officer must, as soon as practicable, give the ratepayer an information notice about the amendment.

(3)An information notice is a notice that states the following matters—

(a)the amendment of the land record and how the amendment changes the rates or charges that are or may be levied on land;

(b)the reasons for the amendment of the land record;

(c)the ratepayer has a right to have the amendment of the land record reviewed by QCAT;

(d)how, and the period within which, the ratepayer may apply for the review;

(e)any right the ratepayer has to have the operation of the decision stayed under the QCAT Act, section 22.

(4)Subsection (2) does not apply to an amendment of the land record that is made because of an annual valuation of all rateable land in Brisbane by the valuation authority.

149Evidence of land record

(1)In any court proceedings in which the liability for rates or charges is relevant, a certified extract of the land record is evidence that—

(a)the valuation recorded in the extract was properly made; and

(b)the information about the rates or charges recorded in the extract is correct; and

(c)the person recorded in the extract as the owner of the land is liable to pay the rates or charges levied on the land.

(2)In this section—

A certified extract is a document that—

(a)purports to be a copy of an entry in the land record; and

(b)is certified by the chief executive officer to be a true copy of the entry in the land record.

150Who may apply for review

A person dissatisfied with an amendment of a land record, other than a removal of land that has been acquired by the council, may apply, as provided under the QCAT Act, to QCAT for a review of the amendment.

151Powers of QCAT on review

In deciding the review, QCAT may—

(a)confirm the amendment; or

(b)set aside the amendment and order the particulars previously contained in the land record be restored.

152Definitions for div 3

In this division—

change of owner notice, for land, means a document stating—

(a)the description of the land; and

(b)the date the owner of the land changed; and

(c)the reason the owner changed, including, for example, because the land has been sold; and

(d)the full name and address of the previous owner of the land; and

(e)the full name and address of the new owner of the land.

new owner, of land, means the person who owns the land immediately after the owner of the land changes.

previous owner, of land, means the person who owned the land immediately before the owner of the land changed.

153Notice of change of owner of land for sale or other ownership changes for land

(1)This section applies if the owner of land changes—

(a)because the land is sold; or

(b)for another reason, including, for example, if the land, or an entitlement to occupy the land, is forfeited or surrendered to the State.

(2)The new owner of the land must give the council notice of the change of owner within 30 days after the change, unless the new owner has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—5 penalty units.

(3)The new owner may comply with subsection (2) by giving the following documents to the registrar of titles—

(a)a properly completed combined form for the change of owner of the land;

(b)the instrument of transfer of the land.

(4)However, subsection (2) does not prevent the previous owner of the land giving the council the notice about the change of owner for the land.

(5)In this section—

combined form means a form that—

(a)gives information required by this section; and

(b)may be given to the registrar of titles.

154Council to record change of owner

If the council receives a change of owner notice under this division, it must record the details of the new owner in the land record unless the council has reason to believe that the notice is false.

155Previous owner can continue to be liable to pay rates or charges

If the council does not receive a change of owner notice under this division, the previous owner of the land continues to be liable to pay all rates or charges on the land, including interest on overdue rates or charges, if any, until—

(a)the change of owner notice is given under this division; or

(b)the council otherwise records the details of the new owner in the land record.

156Requirement to keep record of particular matters

(1)The council must keep a written record stating the following—

(a)the risks the council’s operations are exposed to, to the extent they are relevant to financial management;

(b)the control measures adopted to manage the risks.

(2)The council must keep, with the record, a copy of each of the following—

(a)its community grants policy;

(b)its entertainment and hospitality policy;

(c)its advertising spending policy;

(d)its procurement policy.

157Preparation of corporate plan

(1)The council must prepare a corporate plan for each period of 5 financial years.

(2)The council must adopt its corporate plan in sufficient time to allow a budget and annual operational plan, consistent with the corporate plan, to be adopted for the first financial year that is covered by the plan.

(3)The chief executive officer must present a written assessment of the council’s progress towards implementing the corporate plan at meetings of the council held at regular intervals of not more than 1 year.

(4)The council may, by resolution, amend the corporate plan at any time.

(5)The council must discharge its responsibilities in a way that is consistent with its corporate plan.

158Corporate plan contents

The council’s corporate plan must—

(a)outline the strategic direction of the council; and

(b)state the performance indicators for measuring the council’s progress in achieving its vision for the future of Brisbane; and

(c)include the following information for each commercial business unit—

(i)an outline of the objectives of the commercial business unit;

(ii)an outline of the nature and extent of the significant business activity the commercial business unit will conduct.

159Preparation of long-term asset management plan

(1)The council must prepare and adopt a long-term asset management plan.

(2)The long-term asset management plan continues in force for the period stated in the plan unless the council adopts a new long-term asset management plan.

(3)The period stated in the plan must be 10 years or more.

160Preparation and content of budget

(1)The budget for each financial year must—

(a)be prepared on an accrual basis; and

(b)include statements of the following for the financial year for which it is prepared and the next 2 financial years—

(i)financial position;

(ii)cash flow;

(iii)income and expenditure;

(iv)changes in equity.

(2)The budget must also include—

(a)a long-term financial forecast; and

(b)a revenue statement; and

(c)a revenue policy.

(3)The statement of income and expenditure must state each of the following—

(a)rates and utility charges excluding discounts and rebates;

(b)contributions from developers;

(c)fees and charges;

(d)interest;

(e)grants and subsidies;

(f)depreciation;

(g)finance costs;

(h)net result;

(i)the estimated costs of—

(i)the council’s significant business activities carried on using a full cost pricing basis; and

(ii)the activities of the council’s commercial business units; and

(iii)the council’s significant business activities.

(4)Subject to subsection (5), the budget must include a measure of financial sustainability for—

(a)the financial year for which the budget is being prepared; and

(b)the 9 financial years following the financial year for which the budget is being prepared.

Note—

See section 307 in relation to the budget for the 2023–2024 financial year.

(5)A measure of financial sustainability applies to the council for a financial year to the extent the financial management (sustainability) guideline states the measure applies to the council for the financial year.

(6)The measures of financial sustainability are the following measures described in the financial management (sustainability) guideline—

(a)council controlled revenue ratio;

(b)population growth ratio;

(c)operating surplus ratio;

(d)operating cash ratio;

(e)unrestricted cash expense cover ratio;

(f)asset sustainability ratio;

(g)asset consumption ratio;

(h)asset renewal funding ratio;

(i)leverage ratio.

(7)The budget must include the total value of the change, expressed as a percentage, in the rates and utility charges levied for the financial year compared with the rates and utility charges levied in the budget for the previous financial year.

(8)For calculating the rates and utility charges levied for a financial year, any discounts and rebates must be excluded.

(9)The budget must be consistent with the following documents of the council—

(a)its corporate plan;

(b)its annual operational plan.

s 160 amd 2013 SL No. 148 s 3; 2020 SL No. 244 s 11; 2023 SL No. 56 s 4

161Scrutiny of budget

(1)The council must establish and follow a process for scrutiny of the budget.

(2)The process must include conducting an information session about each program under the budget at which—

(a)a suitably qualified councillor provides information about the program; and

(b)councillors can ask questions about the program; and

(c)suitably qualified councillors must make reasonable efforts to answer the questions asked; and

(d)members of the public can attend.

(3)However, if a question can not be answered at an information session, the process must provide for the question to be answered at the council meeting at which the budget is to be adopted.

162Adoption and amendment of budget

(1)If the budget does not comply with section 160 when it is adopted, the adoption of the budget is of no effect.

(2)The council may, by resolution, amend the budget for a financial year at any time before the end of the financial year.

(3)If the budget does not comply with the following when it is amended, the amendment of the budget is of no effect—

(a)section 160;

(b)the council’s decision about the rates and charges to be levied for the financial year made at the budget meeting for the financial year.

Note—

The council may only decide the rates and charges to be levied for a financial year at the budget meeting for the financial year. See the Act, section 96(2).

163Long-term financial forecast

(1)The council’s long-term financial forecast is a forecast, covering a period of at least 10 years, of the following for each year during the period of the forecast—

(a)income of the council;

(b)expenditure of the council;

(c)the value of assets, liabilities and equity of the council.

(2)The council must—

(a)consider its long-term financial forecast before planning new borrowings; and

(b)review its long-term financial forecast annually.

164Revenue statement

(1)The council’s revenue statement must state—

(a)if the council levies differential general rates—

(i)the rating categories for rateable land in Brisbane; and

(ii)a description of each rating category; and

(b)if the council levies special rates or charges for a joint government activity—a summary of the terms of the joint government activity; and

(c)if the council fixes a cost-recovery fee—the criteria used to decide the amount of the cost-recovery fee; and

(d)if the council conducts a business activity on a commercial basis—the criteria used to decide the amount of the charges for the activity’s goods and services.

(2)Also, the revenue statement for a financial year must include the following information for the financial year—

(a)an outline and explanation of the measures that the council has adopted for raising revenue, including an outline and explanation of—

(i)the rates and charges to be levied in the financial year; and

(ii)the concessions for rates and charges to be granted in the financial year;

(b)whether the council has made a resolution limiting an increase of rates and charges.

165Unauthorised spending for genuine emergency or hardship

(1)The council may spend money that is not authorised in the annual budget only for genuine emergency or hardship.

(2)However, the council must make a resolution about spending the money before, or as soon as practicable after, the money is spent.

(3)The resolution must state how the spending is to be funded.

(4)If the council’s budget for a financial year is amended after the money is spent, the amendment must take the spending into account.

166Preparation and adoption of annual operational plan

(1)The council must prepare and adopt an annual operational plan for each financial year.

(2)The council may, but need not, adopt the annual operational plan for a financial year at the same time the council adopts its budget for the financial year.

(3)The chief executive officer must present a written assessment of the council’s progress towards implementing the annual operational plan at meetings of the council held at regular intervals of not more than 3 months.

(4)The council may, by resolution, amend its annual operational plan at any time before the end of the financial year.

(5)The council must discharge its responsibilities in a way that is consistent with its annual operational plan.

s 166 amd 2024 SL No. 14 s 3

167Annual operational plan contents

(1)The council’s annual operational plan must—

(a)be consistent with its annual budget; and

(b)state how the council will—

(i)progress the implementation of the corporate plan during the period of the annual operational plan; and

(ii)manage operational risks; and

(c)include an annual performance plan for each of the council’s commercial business units.

(2)An annual performance plan for a commercial business unit is a document stating the following for the financial year—

(a)the unit’s objectives;

(b)the nature and extent of the significant business activity the unit is to conduct;

(c)the unit’s financial and non-financial performance targets;

(d)the nature and extent of the community service obligations the unit must perform;

(e)the cost of, and funding for, the community service obligations;

(f)the unit’s notional capital structure, and treatment of surpluses;

(g)the unit’s proposed major investments;

(h)the unit’s outstanding, and proposed, borrowings;

(i)the unit’s policy on the level and quality of service consumers can expect;

(j)the delegations necessary to allow the unit to exercise autonomy in its commercial activities;

(k)the type of information that the unit’s reports to the local government must contain.

(3)The council may omit information from the copies of the annual performance plan made available to the public if—

(a)the information is of a commercially sensitive nature to the commercial business unit; and

(b)the information is given to each of the local government’s councillors.

Note—

See also section 173 (Use of information by councillors) of the Act.

(4)The council may change an annual performance plan for a commercial business unit at any time before the end of the financial year.

168Preparation of financial statements

For each financial year, the council must prepare each of the following (the financial statements)—

(a)a general purpose financial statement;

(b)a current-year financial sustainability statement;

(c)a long-term financial sustainability statement.

169General purpose financial statement

The council’s general purpose financial statement must be prepared in compliance with the following documents (each a prescribed accounting standard) published by the Australian Accounting Standards Board—

(a)Australian Accounting Standards;

(b)Statements of Accounting Concepts;

(c)Interpretations;

(d)Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements.

Editor’s note—

The prescribed accounting standards are available on the Australian Accounting Standards Board’s website.

170Financial sustainability statements

(1)The council’s current-year financial sustainability statement must state each measure of financial sustainability applicable to the council for the financial year to which the statement relates.

(2)The council’s long-term financial sustainability statement must state—

(a)each measure of financial sustainability applicable to the council for the 9 financial years following the year to which the statement relates; and

(b)an explanation of the council’s financial management strategy that is consistent with the long-term financial forecast.

(3)For subsections (1) and (2)(a), a measure of financial sustainability applies to the council for a financial year to the extent the financial management (sustainability) guideline states the measure applies to the council for the financial year.

s 170 amd 2023 SL No. 56 s 5

171Community financial report

(1)The council must prepare a community financial report for each financial year.

(2)The community financial report for a financial year must—

(a)contain a summary and an analysis of the council’s financial performance and position for the financial year; and

(b)be consistent with the general purpose financial statement for the financial year; and

(c)include each measure of financial sustainability applicable to the council for the financial year; and

(d)be written in a way that can be easily understood by the community.

(3)For subsection (2)(c), a measure of financial sustainability applies to the council for a financial year to the extent the financial management (sustainability) guideline states the measure applies to the council for the financial year.

s 171 amd 2023 SL No. 56 s 6

172Non-current physical assets to be recorded

The council’s asset register must record its non-current physical assets.

173What div 3 is about

This division explains what an annual report for the council must contain.

174Preparation of annual report

(1)The council must prepare an annual report for each financial year.

(2)The council must adopt its annual report within 1 month after the day the auditor-general gives the auditor-general’s audit report about the council’s financial statements for the financial year to the council.

(3)However, the Minister may, by notice to the council, extend the time by which the annual report must be adopted.

(4)The council must publish its annual report on its website within 2 weeks of adopting the annual report.

175Financial statements

The annual report for a financial year must contain—

(a)the general purpose financial statement for the financial year, audited by the auditor-general; and

(b)the current-year financial sustainability statement for the financial year, audited by the auditor-general; and

(c)the long-term financial sustainability statement for the financial year; and

(d)the auditor-general’s audit reports about the general purpose financial statement and the current-year financial sustainability statement.

176Community financial report

The annual report for a financial year must contain the community financial report for the financial year.

177Particular resolutions

The annual report for a financial year must contain—

(a)a copy of the resolutions made during the financial year under section 237; and

(b)a list of any resolutions made during the financial year under section 198(2).

178Councillors

(1)The annual report for a financial year must contain particulars of—

(a)for each councillor, the total remuneration, including superannuation contributions, paid to the councillor during the financial year; and

(b)the expenses incurred by, and the facilities provided to, each councillor during the financial year under the council’s expenses reimbursement policy; and

(c)the number of council meetings that each councillor attended during the financial year; and

(d)the total number of the following during the financial year—

(i)orders made under the Local Government Act, section 150I(2);

(ii)orders made under the Local Government Act, section 150IA(2)(b);

(iii)orders made under the Local Government Act, section 150AH(1);

(iv)decisions, orders and recommendations made under the Local Government Act, section 150AR(1); and

(e)each of the following during the financial year—

(i)the name of each councillor for whom a decision, order or recommendation mentioned in paragraph (d) was made;

(ii)a description of the unsuitable meeting conduct, conduct breach or misconduct under the Local Government Act engaged in by each of the councillors;

(iii)a summary of the decision, order or recommendation made for each councillor; and

(f)the number of each of the following during the financial year—

(i)complaints referred to the assessor under the Local Government Act, section 150P(2)(a) by council entities;

(ii)matters mentioned in the Local Government Act, section 150P(3) notified to the Crime and Corruption Commission;

(iii)notices given to the assessor under the Local Government Act, section 150R(2);

(iv)notices given to the assessor under the Local Government Act, section 150S(2)(a);

(v)occasions information was given to the assessor under the Local Government Act, section 150AF(3)(a);

(vi)occasions the council asked another entity to investigate, under the Local Government Act, chapter 5A, part 3, division 5 for the council, the suspected conduct breach under that Act of a councillor;

(vii)applications heard by the conduct tribunal under the Local Government Act, chapter 5A, part 3, division 6 about whether a councillor engaged in misconduct or a conduct breach under that Act; and

(g)the total number of referral notices given to the council under the Local Government Act, section 150AC(1) during the financial year; and

(h)for suspected conduct breaches the subject of a referral notice mentioned in paragraph (g)—

(i)the total number of suspected conduct breaches; and

(ii)the total number of suspected conduct breaches for which an investigation was not started or was discontinued under the Local Government Act, section 150AEA; and

(i)the number of decisions made by the council under the Local Government Act, section 150AG(1) during the financial year; and

(j)the number of matters not decided by the end of the financial year under the Local Government Act, section 150AG(1); and

(k)the average time taken by the council in making a decision under the Local Government Act, section 150AG(1).

(2)In this section—

council entity means the following—

(a)the council;

(b)a councillor;

(c)the chief executive officer.

s 178 amd 2013 SL No. 10 s 3; 2014 Act No. 21 s 94 (2) sch 2; 2019 SL No. 229 s 5; 2023 Act No. 30 s 24

179Administrative action complaints

(1)The annual report for a financial year must contain—

(a)a statement about the council’s commitment to dealing fairly with administrative action complaints; and

(b)a statement about how the council has implemented its complaints management process, including an assessment of the council’s performance in resolving complaints under the process.

(2)The annual report must also contain particulars of—

(a)the number of the following during the financial year—

(i)administrative action complaints made to the council;

(ii)administrative action complaints resolved by the council under the complaints management process;

(iii)administrative action complaints not resolved by the council under the complaints management process; and

(b)the number of administrative action complaints under paragraph (a)(iii) that were made in a previous financial year.

180Overseas travel

(1)The annual report for a financial year must contain the following information about any overseas travel made by a councillor or council employee in an official capacity during the financial year—

(a)for a councillor—the name of the councillor;

(b)for the council employee—the name of, and position held by, the council employee;

(c)the destination of the overseas travel;

(d)the purpose of the overseas travel;

(e)the cost of the overseas travel.

(2)The annual report may also contain any other information about the overseas travel the council considers relevant.

181Grants to community organisations and discretionary funds

(1)The annual report for a financial year must contain a summary of the council’s expenditure for the financial year on grants to community organisations.

(2)The annual report must also contain the following information about the council’s discretionary funds—

(a)the total amount budgeted for the financial year as the council’s discretionary funds;

(b)the prescribed amount for the financial year;

(c)the total amount of discretionary funds budgeted for the financial year for councillors to allocate for each of the following purposes—

(i)capital works of the council that are for a community purpose;

(ii)other community purposes;

(d)the amount of discretionary funds budgeted for use by each councillor for the financial year;

(e)if a councillor allocates discretionary funds in the financial year—

(i)the amount allocated; and

(ii)the date the amount was allocated; and

(iii)the way mentioned in section 194(1) in which the amount was allocated; and

(iv)if the amount was allocated to a person or organisation—the name of the person or organisation to whom the allocation was made; and

(v)the purpose for which the amount was allocated, including sufficient details to identify how the funds were, or are to be, spent.

(3)In this section—

prescribed amount, for a financial year, see section 193B(5).

s 181 sub 2019 SL No. 229 s 6

182Other contents

(1)The annual report for a financial year must contain the following information—

(a)the chief executive officer’s assessment of the council’s progress towards implementing its corporate plan and annual operational plan;

(b)particulars of other issues relevant to making an informed assessment of the council’s operations and performance in the financial year;

(c)an annual operations report for each commercial business unit;

(d)details of any action taken for, and expenditure on, a service, facility or activity—

(i)supplied by another local government under an agreement for conducting a joint government activity; and

(ii)for which the council levied special rates or charges for the financial year;

(e)the number of invitations to change tenders under section 218(8) during the financial year;

(f)a list of the registers kept by the council;

(g)a summary of all concessions for rates and charges granted by the council;

(h)the report on the internal audit for the financial year;

(i)a summary of investigation notices given in the financial year under section 37 for competitive neutrality complaints;

(j)the council’s responses in the financial year to any recommendations, made under section 40(3), relating to competitive neutrality complaints;

(k)an overview of the council’s long-term strategy to ensure financial sustainability;

(l)an overview of the council’s long-term asset management plan.

(2)In this section—

annual operations report, for a commercial business unit, means a document that contains the following information for the previous financial year—

(a)information that allows an informed assessment of the unit’s operations, including a comparison with the unit’s annual performance plan;

(b)particulars of any changes made to the unit’s annual performance plan for the previous financial year;

(c)particulars of the impact the changes had on the unit’s—

(i)financial position; and

(ii)operating surplus or deficit; and

(iii)prospects;

(d)particulars of any directions the council gave the unit.

s 182 amd 2013 SL No. 10 s 4; 2015 SL No. 170 s 5; 2020 SL No. 244 s 13; 2021 Act No. 12 s 217 sch 6

183Investment policy

(1)The council must prepare and adopt an investment policy.

(2)The investment policy must outline—

(a)the council’s investment objectives and overall risk philosophy; and

(b)procedures for achieving the goals related to investment stated in the policy.

184Debt policy

(1)The council must prepare and adopt a debt policy for a financial year.

(2)The debt policy must state—

(a)the new borrowings planned for the current financial year and the next 9 financial years; and

(b)the period over which the council plans to repay existing and new borrowings.

185Revenue policy

(1)The council’s revenue policy for a financial year must state—

(a)the principles that the council intends to apply in the financial year for—

(i)levying rates and charges; and

(ii)granting concessions for rates and charges; and

(iii)recovering overdue rates and charges; and

(iv)cost-recovery methods; and

(b)if the council intends to grant concessions for rates and charges—the purpose for the concessions; and

(c)the extent to which physical and social infrastructure costs for a new development are to be funded by charges for the development.

(2)The revenue policy may state guidelines that may be used for preparing the council’s revenue statement.

(3)The council must review its revenue policy annually and in sufficient time to allow an annual budget that is consistent with the revenue policy to be adopted for the next financial year.

186Grants to community organisations

The council may give a grant to a community organisation only—

(a)if the council is satisfied—

(i)the grant will be used for a purpose that is in the public interest; and

(ii)the community organisation meets the criteria stated in the council’s community grants policy; and

(b)in a way that is consistent with the council’s community grants policy.

187Community grants policy

The council must prepare and adopt a policy about grants to community organisations (a community grants policy), which includes the criteria for a community organisation to be eligible for a grant from the council.

188Entertainment and hospitality

(1)The council must prepare and adopt a policy about the council’s spending on entertainment or hospitality (an entertainment and hospitality policy).

Examples of entertainment or hospitality—

•entertaining members of the public in order to promote a council project

•providing food or beverages to a person who is visiting the council in an official capacity

•providing food or beverages for a conference, course, meeting, seminar, workshop or another forum that is held by the council for its councillors, employees or other persons

•paying for a councillor or council employee to attend a function as part of the councillor’s or employee’s official duties or obligations as a councillor or council employee

(2)The council may spend money on entertainment or hospitality only in a way that is consistent with its entertainment and hospitality policy.

189Advertising spending

(1)The council must prepare and adopt a policy about the council’s spending on advertising (an advertising spending policy).

(2)The council may spend money on advertising only—

(a)if—

(i)the advertising is to provide information or education to the public; and

(ii)the information or education is provided in the public interest; and

(b)in a way that is consistent with the council’s advertising spending policy.

(3)Advertising is promoting, for the payment of a fee, an idea, goods or services to the public.

190Procurement policy

(1)The council must prepare and adopt a policy about procurement (a procurement policy).

(2)The procurement policy must include details of the principles, including the sound contracting principles, that the council will apply in the financial year for purchasing goods and services.

(3)The council must review its procurement policy annually.

191Public access to relevant financial and planning documents

(1)This section applies to the following documents of the council—

(a)corporate plan;

(b)annual budget;

(c)general purpose financial statement;

(d)community financial report;

(e)annual report;

(f)investment policy;

(g)debt policy;

(h)community grants policy;

(i)procurement policy.

(2)The council must allow the public—

(a)to inspect the documents—

(i)at the council’s public office; and

(ii)on the council’s website; and

(b)to purchase copies of the documents from the council.

(3)The price for purchasing a copy of a document must be no more than the cost to the council of making the copy available for purchase.

192Trust fund

(1)The council must establish a trust fund.

(2)A trust fund is a fund that is credited with trust money.

(3)Trust money is money that is—

(a)paid to the council in trust for a person; or

(b)paid to the council as a deposit; or

(c)required by an Act to be credited to a trust fund; or

(d)interest accrued on money that was paid to the council under paragraphs (a) to (c), whether or not the money was required to be paid to the council, unless the council and the depositor have agreed the interest accrued should be paid to an entity other than the council.

(4)The council must deposit trust money in a financial institution account.

(5)The council must not allow a financial institution account in which trust money has been deposited to be overdrawn at any time.

(6)The council must, at least monthly, reconcile the assets of the trust fund with the liabilities of the trust fund.

193Transferring money to or from a trust fund

(1)The council may transfer trust money from a trust fund only in compliance with this section.

(2)The council may transfer trust money from a trust fund—

(a)to, or for, the person who is entitled to the money, according to law; or

(b)as required by the relevant Act under which the money was paid into the trust fund.

(3)If the purpose for which an amount of trust money was credited to the trust fund no longer exists, the council may, if it has resolved the purpose no longer exists, transfer the amount from the trust fund.

(4)If an amount of trust money is mistakenly not credited to the trust fund, the council must transfer the amount to the trust fund as soon as practicable, but no longer than 5 working days, after the council becomes aware the amount has been incorrectly credited.

(5)If an amount that is not trust money is mistakenly credited to the trust fund, the council must transfer the amount from the fund as soon as practicable, but no longer than 5 working days, after the council becomes aware the amount has been incorrectly credited.

(6)Money that is trust money under section 192(3)(d) may be transferred from the trust fund at any time.

193A Purpose of division

This division—

(a)provides for how the council may make discretionary funds available; and

(b)prescribes, for section 106 of the Act, requirements for a councillor for using discretionary funds.

s 193A ins 2019 SL No. 229 s 7

193B Requirements for council about discretionary funds

(1) The council may, for a financial year, budget an amount of discretionary funds for use by councillors for either or both of the following purposes—

(a)capital works of the council that are for a community purpose;

(b)other community purposes.

(2)However, the amount the council budgets as discretionary funds for a financial year under subsection (1)(b) must not be more than the prescribed amount for the financial year.

(3)The amount of discretionary funds the council budgets for allocation by each councillor in a financial year must be the same for all councillors.

(4)The council must, within 20 business days after adopting its budget for a financial year, make publicly available a notice (the availability notice) stating—

(a)the total amount budgeted for the financial year as the council’s discretionary funds; and

(b)the prescribed amount for the council for the financial year; and

(c)the total amount of discretionary funds budgeted for the financial year for councillors to allocate for each of the following purposes—

(i)capital works of the council that are for a community purpose;

(ii)other community purposes; and

(d)the amount of discretionary funds budgeted for use by each councillor for the financial year for each of the following purposes—

(i)capital works of the council that are for a community purpose;

(ii)other community purposes; and

(e)how community organisations may apply for allocation of the funds.

(5)In this section—

prescribed amount, for a financial year, means 0.1% of the council’s revenue from general rates for the previous financial year.

s 193B ins 2019 SL No. 229 s 7

194Requirements for councillors about discretionary funds—Act, s 106

(1)A councillor may allocate the councillor’s discretionary funds under this section in any of the following ways—

(a)for capital works of the council that are for a community purpose;

(b)to a community organisation for a community purpose;

(c)for another community purpose.

(2)A councillor may make an allocation under subsection (1)(a) only if—

(a)the Establishment and Coordination Committee has approved the allocation before it is made; and

(b)the amount stated in the availability notice under section 193B(4)(d)(i) is not exceeded if the allocation is made.

(3)A councillor may make an allocation under subsection (1)(b) only if—

(a)the funds are allocated—

(i)to a community organisation that has applied for the funds in the way stated in the availability notice under section 193B(4); and

(ii)in a way that is consistent with the council’s community grants policy; and

(b)the amount stated in the availability notice under section 193B(4)(d)(ii) is not exceeded if the allocation is made.

(4)A councillor may make an allocation under subsection (1)(c) only if the amount stated in the availability notice under section 193B(4)(d)(ii) is not exceeded if the allocation is made.

(5)A councillor—

(a)may allocate the councillor’s discretionary funds only in the financial year for which the funds are budgeted; and

(b)must not allocate the councillor’s discretionary funds in a way mentioned in subsection (1)(b) or (c) during the period—

(i)starting on 1 January in the year a quadrennial election must be held; and

(ii)ending at the conclusion of the election; and

(c)must not allocate the councillor’s discretionary funds for supplying administrative or support services for performing the councillor’s responsibilities under the Act.

(6)In deciding whether to approve an allocation under subsection (2)(a), the Establishment and Coordination Committee must have regard to the council’s corporate plan, long-term asset management plan and annual budget.

s 194 amd 2019 SL No. 229 s 4

sub 2019 SL No. 229 s 7

194A Requirements for notice of allocation

(1)Within 7 business days after a councillor allocates an amount of discretionary funds under section 194, the councillor must give the chief executive officer a notice about the allocation stating—

(a)the amount allocated; and

(b)the date the amount was allocated; and

(c)the way mentioned in section 194(1) in which the amount was allocated; and

(d)if the amount was allocated to a person or organisation—the name of the person or organisation to whom the allocation was made; and

(e)the purpose for which the amount was allocated, including sufficient details to identify how the funds were, or are to be, spent.

Maximum penalty—10 penalty units.

(2)Within 7 business days after the chief executive officer is given a notice under subsection (1), the council must publish the notice on its website.

s 194A ins 2019 SL No. 229 s 7

195Accounting records for funds generally

(1)The council must establish separate accounting records for—

(a)its operations; and

(b)its trust fund.

(2)The accounting records for a financial year must give a comparison with its annual budget for the financial year.

196Financial report

(1)The council must prepare a financial report for each month.

(2)The chief executive officer must present the financial reports at least quarterly at meetings of the council.

(3)The financial reports presented at a meeting of the council must state the progress that has been made in relation to the council’s budget for the period of the financial year up to a day as near as practicable to the end of the month before the meeting is held.

197Statement of estimated financial position

(1)The chief executive officer must present the council’s annual budget meeting with a statement of estimated financial position.

(2)A statement of estimated financial position is a document stating the financial operations, and financial position, of the council for the previous financial year.

198Valuation of non-current physical assets

(1)The value of the council’s non-current physical assets must be worked out using the prescribed accounting standards.

(2)The council must, by resolution, set an amount for each different type of non-current physical asset below which the value of an asset of the same type must be treated as an expense.

(3)The amount must be included in a note in the council’s general purpose financial statement.

(4)For subsection (2), the following assets that are controlled by the council do not have a value for the council’s general purpose financial statement—

(a)land that is a reserve under the Land Act;

(b)a road that is not owned by the council.

199Internal audit

(1)For each financial year, the council must—

(a)prepare an internal audit plan; and

(b)carry out an internal audit; and

(c)prepare a progress report for the internal audit; and

(d)assess compliance with the internal audit plan.

(2)The council’s internal audit plan is a document that includes statements about—

(a)the way in which the operational risks have been evaluated; and

(b)the most significant operational risks identified from the evaluation; and

(c)the control measures that the council has adopted, or is to adopt, to manage the most significant operational risks.

(3)The council must give its audit committee—

(a)the progress report mentioned in subsection (1)(c); and

(b)at least twice during the year after the internal audit is carried out, each of the following documents—

(i)a summary of the recommendations stated in the report;

(ii)a summary of the actions that have been taken by the council in response to the recommendations;

(iii)a summary of any actions that have not been taken by the council in response to the recommendations.

200Establishment and composition of audit committee

(1)The council must establish an audit committee that—

(a)consists of at least 3 and no more than 6 members; and

(b)includes at least 1 member who has significant experience and skills in financial matters.

(2)The audit committee may also include 2, but no more than 2, councillors appointed by the council.

(3)The chief executive officer can not be a member of the audit committee but can attend meetings of the committee.

(4)The council must appoint 1 of the members of the audit committee, other than a person appointed under subsection (2), as chairperson.

201Audit committee meetings

(1)The audit committee must—

(a)meet at least twice each financial year; and

(b)review each of the following matters—

(i)the internal audit plan for the internal audit for the current financial year;

(ii)the internal audit progress report for the internal audit for the preceding financial year including the recommendations in the report and the actions to which the recommendations relate;

(iii)a draft of the council’s financial statements for the preceding financial year before the statements are certified and given to the auditor-general under section 202;

(iv)the auditor-general’s audit report and auditor-general’s observation report about the council’s financial statements for the preceding financial year; and

(c)as soon as practicable after a meeting of the committee, give the council a written report about the matters reviewed at the meeting and the committee’s recommendations about the matters.

(2)At a meeting of the audit committee—

(a)a quorum is at least half the number of members of the committee; and

Examples—

1If the committee consists of 4 members, a quorum is 2.

2If the committee consists of 5 members, a quorum is 3.

(b)either—

(i)the chairperson presides; or

(ii)if the chairperson is absent, the member chosen by the members present as chairperson for the meeting presides.

(3)The audit committee may, for performing its functions under subsection (1)(b), seek information or advice from the person who has carried out the internal audit.

(4)The chief executive officer must present the report mentioned in subsection (1)(c) at the next meeting of the council.

202Auditing of financial statements by auditor-general

(1)The council’s general purpose financial statement and current-year financial sustainability statement for a financial year must be given to the auditor-general for auditing.

(2)Also, the council’s long-term financial sustainability statement for the financial year must be given to the auditor-general for information.

(3)The financial statements mentioned in subsections (1) and (2) must be given to the auditor-general by a date agreed between the chief executive officer and the auditor-general.

(4)The date agreed under subsection (3) must allow the audit of the financial statements, and the auditor-general’s audit report about the statements, to be completed no later than 4 months after the end of the financial year to which the statements relate.

(5)The financial statements given to the auditor-general must be accompanied by a certificate in the approved form given by the mayor and chief executive officer, certifying whether, in their opinion—

(a)in relation to the general purpose financial statement—

(i)any requirements prescribed under the Act or another Act for establishing and keeping the council’s accounts have been complied with in all material respects; and

(ii)the statement presents a true and fair view, in compliance with the prescribed accounting standards, of the council’s transactions for the financial year and financial position at the end of the year; and

(b)in relation to the current-year financial sustainability statement and the long-term financial sustainability statement—the statements have been accurately calculated.

(6)Subsection (7) applies if the Minister considers there are extraordinary circumstances that make it impractical for the council to give the auditor-general its financial statements by a date that would allow the audit and report to be completed within the time stated in subsection (4).

(7)The Minister may, by notice to the council, decide later dates by which the statements must be given and the audit and report must be completed.

203Presentation of auditor-general’s observation report

(1)This section applies if the auditor-general gives the mayor a copy of the auditor-general’s observation report about an audit of the council’s financial statements.

(2)An auditor-general’s observation report, about an audit of the council’s financial statements, is a report about the audit prepared under section 54 of the Auditor-General Act 2009 that includes observations and suggestions made by the auditor-general about anything arising out of the audit.

(3)The mayor must present a copy of the report at the next ordinary meeting of the council.

ch 5 pt 11 div 3 hdg ins 2020 SL No. 244 s 14

203A Notices for notifiable events and governing documents

(1)Subsection (2) applies if—

(a)a controlled entity of the council is established or abolished (a notifiable event); or

(b)an entity becomes a controlled entity, or stops being a controlled entity, of the council (also a notifiable event).

(2)The council must, within 14 days after the notifiable event happens, give the Minister—

(a)a notice stating the following—

(i)the name of the controlled entity;

(ii)a description of the notifiable event;

(iii)when the notifiable event happened; and

(b)any documents, including governing documents, about the controlled entity that the council considers to be relevant to the notifiable event.

(3)If a governing document of a controlled entity of the council changes, the council must, within 14 days of the change happening, give the Minister—

(a)a notice stating details of the change; and

(b)a copy of the governing document as amended.

(4)In this section—

governing document, of a controlled entity, means a document that governs the activities of the controlled entity or the members of the controlled entity.

Examples of governing documents of a controlled entity—

the constitution of the controlled entity, a statement of corporate intent

s 203A ins 2020 SL No. 244 s 14

203B Council to obtain copy of audited financial statements of controlled entities

(1)This section applies if the financial statements of a controlled entity of the council are audited under the Auditor-General Act 2009.

(2)The council must obtain a copy of the audited financial statements of the controlled entity from—

(a)the controlled entity; or

(b)if the controlled entity is subject to the control of another entity and the other entity is subject to the control of the council—the other entity.

(3)The mayor must present the copy of the audited financial statements at the next ordinary meeting of the council.

(4)The council must ensure that, within 14 days after the copy of the audited financial statements is presented at the meeting, the copy is, or a link to the copy is, published on the council’s website.

s 203B ins 2020 SL No. 244 s 14

204Insurance

The council must maintain the following insurance—

(a)public liability insurance for at least $30m;

(b)professional indemnity insurance for at least $10m.

205Notice of payment of notional GST

The council must, no later than 15 September in each financial year, give the department’s chief executive a notice stating that the council has paid notional GST for the previous financial year.

206What ch 6 is about

(1)This chapter is about the council’s activities for the making of a contract for—

(a)the supply of goods or services; or

(b)the disposal of non-current assets.

(2)However, this chapter does not apply to the council making a contract of employment with a council employee.

s 206 amd 2013 SL No. 273 s 7

207What pt 2 is about

(1)This part allows the council to take a strategic approach to its contracts.

(2)A strategic approach is an approach that identifies potential opportunities, while managing adverse risks.

(3)However, this part applies to the council only if it decides to apply the part.

(4)This part does not apply to a contract for the disposal of land.

(5)For all other contracts, this part provides an alternative to part 3.

208Power to choose strategic approach

(1)The council may, by resolution, decide to apply this part to its contracts.

(2)However, the council may do so only after it—

(a)has considered the costs and benefits of complying with this part; and

(b)has given the public notice of the proposed resolution.

(3)The notice must—

(a)state the proposed resolution; and

(b)state the day and time of the meeting where the resolution is to be considered; and

(c)be published on the council’s website, and in another way the chief executive officer considers appropriate, at least 4 weeks before the meeting.

s 208 amd 2020 SL No. 244 s 15

209Effect of choice

(1)If the council decides to apply this part to its contracts, it must comply with this part from—

(a)the day on which the resolution is passed; or

(b)if the resolution states a later day for complying—the later day.

(2)The later day must not be more than 1 year after the resolution is passed.

(3)The passing of the resolution does not of itself affect a contractual obligation or right of the council.

(4)Subsection (5) applies if, immediately before the day on which the council passes the resolution, the council—

(a)had, under part 3, invited tenders or quotes for a contract; and

(b)had received tenders or quotes in response to the invitation; and

(c)had not accepted, or had decided not to accept, any of the tenders or quotes.

(5)Part 3 continues to apply to the contracts as if the resolution had not been passed.

(6)The council may, by a later resolution, decide this part no longer applies to the council.

(7)If the council does so, it must continue to comply with this part for any contract that was made when this part did apply to the council.

210Contracting plans

(1)This section applies if the council decides to apply this part to its contracts.

(2)Each financial year, the council must make and adopt a contracting plan.

(3)A contracting plan is a document stating—

(a)the types of contracts that the council proposes to make in the financial year; and

(b)the principles and strategies for performing the contracts; and

(c)a policy about proposed delegations for the contracts; and

(d)a market assessment for each type of contract; and

(e)the contracts that the council considers will be significant (a significant contract) having regard to the market assessment; and

(f)a policy about the making of a significant contracting plan under section 211.

(4)A market assessment is an assessment of the relative cost and difficulty in securing supply under each type of contract.

(5)A contracting plan must be consistent with and support the achievement of the strategic directions stated in the council’s corporate plan.

(6)The council must not make the resolution to adopt a contracting plan before the council adopts the annual budget for the financial year.

(7)The council may, by resolution, amend a contracting plan at any time before the end of the financial year to which the plan relates.

(8)The council must allow the public to inspect and buy copies of the contracting plan at the council public office.

211Significant contracting plans

(1)This section applies if the contracting plan identifies any significant contracts.

(2)The council must make a significant contracting plan for each significant contract before the contract starts.

(3)A significant contracting plan is a document stating—

(a)the objectives of the significant contract; and

(b)how the objectives are to be achieved; and

(c)how achievement of the objectives will be measured; and

(d)any alternative ways of achieving the objectives, and why the alternative ways were not adopted; and

(e)proposed contractual arrangements for the activity; and

(f)a risk analysis of the market in which the contract is to happen.

(4)The objectives must be consistent with the council’s contracting plan.

(5)The council may, by resolution, amend a significant contracting plan at any time before the end of the financial year to which the plan relates.

212Contract manual

(1)The council must make and adopt a contract manual.

(2)A contract manual is a document that sets out the procedures for how the council is to carry out all contracts.

(3)The contract manual must—

(a)apply the sound contracting principles; and

(b)be consistent with, and support, the achievement of the strategic direction stated in the council’s corporate plan; and

(c)if the council has adopted a contracting plan—be consistent with the contracting plan; and

(d)include a policy about how the council is to deal with any non-current assets that have a value of less than the amount mentioned in section 214(8).

s 212 amd 2014 SL No. 290 s 9

213What pt 3 is about

(1)This part is about the requirements that the council must comply with before entering into a contract, unless the council decides to apply part 2.

(2)This part also applies to a contract for the disposal of land.

214What div 2 is about

(1)This division explains what the council must do before it enters into—

(a)a medium-sized contractual arrangement; or

(b)a large-sized contractual arrangement; or

(c)a valuable non-current asset contract.

(2)A medium-sized contractual arrangement is a contractual arrangement with a supplier that is expected to be worth, exclusive of GST, $15,000 or more but less than $200,000 in a financial year, or over the proposed term of the contractual arrangement.

(3)A large-sized contractual arrangement is a contractual arrangement with a supplier that is expected to be worth, exclusive of GST, $200,000 or more in a financial year, or over the proposed term of the contractual arrangement.

Example—

A contractual arrangement for the supply of a service over a 5 year period that is expected to be worth, exclusive of GST, $80,000 each year has a total expected value of $400,000.

(4)For subsections (2) and (3), the expected value of a contractual arrangement with a supplier for a financial year, or over the proposed term of the contractual arrangement, is the total expected value of all of the council’s contracts with the supplier for goods and services of a similar type under the arrangement.

(5)A valuable non-current asset contract is a contract for the disposal of a valuable non-current asset.

(6)The disposal of a valuable non-current asset by the council includes the disposal of all or any interest in the asset.

Example—

the grant of a lease over land or a building

(7)A valuable non-current asset is—

(a)land; or

(b)another non-current asset that has an apparent value that is equal to or more than a limit set by the council.

(8)The limit set by the council under subsection (7)(b) can not be more than the following amount—

(a)for plant or equipment—$5,000;

(b)for another type of non-current asset—$10,000.

s 214 amd 2013 SL No. 273 s 8; 2014 SL No. 290 s 10

215Medium-sized contractual arrangement—quotes needed first

(1)The council can not enter into a medium-sized contractual arrangement unless the council first invites written quotes for the contract.

(2)The invitation must be given to at least 3 persons who the council considers can meet the council’s requirements at competitive prices.

(3)The council may decide not to accept any of the quotes it receives.

(4)However, if the council does decide to accept a quote, the council must accept the quote most advantageous to it having regard to the sound contracting principles.

(5)This section is subject to division 3.

216Large-sized contractual arrangement—tenders needed first

(1)The council can not enter into a large-sized contractual arrangement unless the council first invites written tenders for the contract under section 218.

(2)This section is subject to division 3.

217Valuable non-current asset contract—tenders or auction needed first

(1)The council can not enter into a valuable non-current asset contract unless it first—

(a)invites written tenders for the contract under section 218; or

(b)offers the non-current asset for sale by auction.

(2)This section is subject to division 4.

218Tender process

(1)This section is about how the council must invite written tenders for—

(a)a large-sized contractual arrangement; or

(b)a valuable non-current asset contract.

(2)The council must either—

(a)invite written tenders under subsection (4); or

(b)invite expressions of interest under subsection (5) before considering whether to invite written tenders under subsection (7)(b).

(3)However, the council may invite expressions of interest under subsection (5) only if the council—

(a)decides, by resolution, that it would be in the public interest to invite expressions of interest before inviting written tenders; and

(b)records its reasons for making the resolution in the minutes of the meeting at which the resolution was made.

(4)The invitation for tenders must—

(a)be published on the council’s website for at least 21 days; and

(b)allow written tenders to be given to the council while the invitation is published on the website.

(5)The invitation for expressions of interest must—

(a)be published on the council’s website for at least 21 days; and

(b)allow written expressions of interest to be given to the council while the invitation is published on the website.

(6)Also, the council must take all reasonable steps to publish the invitation for tenders or invitation for expressions of interest in another way to notify the public about the tender process.

Examples for subsection (6)—

publishing an invitation in an industry publication or on the QTENDERS website

(7)If the council invites expressions of interest under subsection (5) or (6), the council may—

(a)prepare a short list from the persons who respond to the invitation for expressions of interest; and

(b)invite written tenders from those persons.

(8)If—

(a)an invitation to tender under subsection (4) or (7)(b) states that the council might later invite all tenderers to change their tenders to take account of a change in the tender specifications; and

(b)the council does change the tender specifications;

the council may invite all the persons who submitted a tender to change their tender to take account of the change, before making a decision on the tenders.

(9)The council may decide not to accept any tenders it receives.

(10)However, if the council does decide to accept a tender, the council must accept the tender most advantageous to it, having regard to the sound contracting principles.

s 218 amd 2020 SL No. 244 s 16

219What div 3 is about

This division explains when the council may enter into—

(a)a medium-sized contractual arrangement without first inviting written quotes; or

(b)a large-sized contractual arrangement without first inviting written tenders.

220Exception if quote or tender consideration plan prepared

(1)The council may enter into a medium-sized contractual arrangement or large-sized contractual arrangement without first inviting written quotes or tenders if the council—

(a)decides, by resolution, to prepare a quote or tender consideration plan; and

(b)prepares and adopts the plan.

(2)A quote or tender consideration plan is a document stating—

(a)the objectives of the plan; and

(b)how the objectives are to be achieved; and

(c)how the achievement of the objectives will be measured; and

(d)any alternative ways of achieving the objectives, and why the alternative ways were not adopted; and

(e)the proposed terms of the contract for the goods or services; and

(f)a risk analysis of the market from which the goods or services are to be obtained.

221Exception for contractor on approved contractor list

(1)This section applies to a medium-sized contractual arrangement or large-sized contractual arrangement for services.

(2)The council may enter into the contract without first inviting written quotes or tenders if the contract is made with a person who is on an approved contractor list.

(3)An approved contractor list is a list of persons who the council considers to be appropriately qualified to provide the services.

(4)The council must put together the approved contractor list by—

(a)publishing an invitation for expressions of interest from suitably qualified persons for at least 21 days on the council’s website; and

(b)taking all reasonable steps to publish the invitation in another way to notify the public about the making of the approved contractor list; and

Examples for paragraph (b)—

publishing an invitation in an industry publication or on the QTENDERS website

(c)allowing written expressions of interest to be given to the council while the invitation is published on the website; and

(d)choosing persons for the approved contractor list on the basis of the sound contracting principles.

s 221 amd 2020 SL No. 244 s 17

222Exception for register of pre-qualified suppliers

(1)This section applies to a medium-sized contractual arrangement or large-sized contractual arrangement for the supply of goods or services.

(2)The council may enter into the contract without first inviting written quotes or tenders if the contract is entered into with a supplier from a register of pre-qualified suppliers that is made in compliance with subsections (3) to (7).

(3)The council may establish a register of pre-qualified suppliers of particular goods or services only if—

(a)the preparation and evaluation of invitations every time the goods or services are needed would be costly; or

(b)the capability or financial capacity of the supplier of the goods or services is critical; or

(c)the supply of the goods or services involves significant security considerations; or

(d)a precondition of an offer to contract for the goods or services is compliance with particular standards or conditions set by the council; or

(e)the ability of local business to supply the goods or services needs to be discovered or developed.

(4)The council must invite suppliers to tender to be on a register of pre-qualified suppliers.

(5)The invitation must—

(a)be published on the council’s website for at least 21 days; and

(b)allow written tenders to be given to the council while the invitation is published on the website.

(6)Also, the council must take all reasonable steps to publish the invitation in another way to notify the public about establishing the register of pre-qualified suppliers.

Examples for subsection (6)—

publishing an invitation in an industry publication or on the QTENDERS website

(7)When selecting a supplier to be a pre-qualified supplier for the register, the council must have regard to the sound contracting principles.

(8)A pre-qualified supplier is a supplier who has been assessed by the council as having the technical, financial and managerial capability necessary to perform contracts on time and in accordance with agreed requirements.

s 222 amd 2013 SL No. 273 s 9; 2020 SL No. 244 s 18

223Exception for a preferred supplier arrangement

(1)This section applies to a medium-sized contractual arrangement or large-sized contractual arrangement for goods or services if the council—

(a)needs the goods or services—

(i)in large volumes; or

(ii)frequently; and

(b)is able to obtain better value for money by accumulating the demand for the goods or services; and

(c)is able to describe the goods or services in terms that would be well understood in the relevant industry.

(2)The council may enter into a contract for the goods or services without first inviting written quotes or tenders if the contract is entered into with the preferred supplier under a preferred supplier arrangement that is made in compliance with subsections (3) to (9).

(3)The council must invite persons to tender for a preferred supplier arrangement.

(4)The invitation to tender for a preferred supplier arrangement must—

(a)be published on the council’s website for at least 21 days; and

(b)allow written tenders to be given to the council while the invitation is published on the website; and

(c)describe the terms of the preferred supplier arrangement.

(5)Also, the council must take all reasonable steps to publish the invitation in another way to notify the public about the tender process.

Examples for subsection (5)—

publishing an invitation in an industry publication or on the QTENDERS website

(6)When selecting a person to be a preferred supplier under a preferred supplier arrangement, the council must have regard to the sound contracting principles.

(7)The council must ensure the terms of the preferred supplier arrangement allow the contract to be cancelled for the poor performance of the preferred supplier.

(8)A preferred supplier arrangement may be entered into for a term of more than 2 years only if the council is satisfied the longer term will result in better value for the council.

(9)For subsection (8), the term of a preferred supplier arrangement includes any period provided for under the arrangement by which the term of the arrangement can be extended.

s 223 amd 2020 SL No. 244 s 19

224Exception for LGA arrangement

(1)The council may enter into a contract for goods and services without first inviting written quotes or tenders if the contract is entered into under an LGA arrangement.

(2)An LGA arrangement is an arrangement that—

(a)has been entered into by—

(i)LGAQ Ltd.; or

Note—

See section 287 of the Local Government Act 2009.

(ii)a company (the associated company) registered under the Corporations Act, if LGAQ Ltd. is its only shareholder; and

(b)if LGAQ Ltd. or the associated company were the council, would be either—

(i)a contract with an independent supplier entered into under section 222 by LGAQ Ltd. or the associated company; or

(ii)a contract with an independent supplier entered into under a preferred supplier arrangement under section 223.

(3)An independent supplier is an entity other than a subsidiary (a relevant subsidiary) of LGAQ Ltd. or the associated company under the Corporations Act.

(4)Despite subsection (2)(b), an LGA arrangement may include a contract with a relevant subsidiary from a register of pre-qualified suppliers or a preferred supplier arrangement with a relevant subsidiary if the arrangement is approved by the Minister.

(5)For deciding whether to approve an LGA arrangement under subsection (4), the Minister—

(a)must have regard to the sound contracting principles; and

(b)may ask LGAQ Ltd. or the associated company to give the Minister information or documents relevant to the arrangement.

Examples of relevant information or documents—

•information or documents relating to assessment of the relevant subsidiary’s suitability to be on the register of pre-qualified suppliers or the tender process for the preferred supplier arrangement

•information or documents relating to the potential impact of the arrangement on council employees

s 224 amd 2013 SL No. 273 s 10

225Other exceptions

The council may enter into a medium-sized contractual arrangement or large-sized contractual arrangement without first inviting written quotes or tenders if—

(a)the council resolves it is satisfied that there is only 1 supplier who is reasonably available; or

(b)the council resolves that, because of the specialised or confidential nature of the services that are sought, it would be impractical or disadvantageous for the council to invite quotes or tenders; or

(c)a genuine emergency exists; or

(d)the contract is for the purchase of goods and is made by auction; or

(e)the contract is for the purchase of second-hand goods; or

(f)the contract is made with, or under an arrangement with, a government agency.

226Exceptions for valuable non-current asset contracts

(1)Subject to subsections (2) to (4), the council may dispose of a valuable non-current asset other than by tender or auction if—

(a)the valuable non-current asset—

(i)was previously offered for sale by tender or auction but was not sold; and

(ii)is sold for more than the highest tender or auction bid that was received; or

(b)the valuable non-current asset is disposed of to—

(i)a government agency; or

(ii)a community organisation; or

(c)for the disposal of land or an interest in land—

(i)the land will not be rateable land after the disposal; or

(ii)the land is disposed of to a person whose restored enjoyment of the land is consistent with Aboriginal tradition or Island custom; or

(iii)the disposal is for the purpose of renewing the lease of land to the existing tenant of the land; or

(iv)the land is disposed of to a person who owns adjoining land if—

(A)the land is not suitable to be offered for disposal by tender or auction for a particular reason, including, for example, the size of the land or the existence of particular infrastructure on the land; and

(B)there is not another person who owns other adjoining land who wishes to acquire the land; and

(C)it is in the public interest to dispose of the land without a tender or auction; and

(D)the disposal is otherwise in accordance with sound contracting principles; or

(v)all or some of the consideration for the disposal is consideration other than money, for example, other land given in exchange for the disposal, if—

(A)it is in the public interest to dispose of the land without a tender or auction; and

(B)the disposal is otherwise in accordance with sound contracting principles; or

(vi)the disposal is for the purpose of a lease for a telecommunication tower; or

(vii)the disposal is of an interest in land that is used as an airport or for related purposes if—

(A)it is in the public interest to dispose of the interest in land without a tender or auction; and

(B)the disposal is otherwise in accordance with sound contracting principles; or

(d)for the disposal of a valuable non-current asset, other than land, by way of a trade-in for the supply of goods or services to the council—

(i)the supply is, or is to be, made under this part; and

(ii)the disposal is, or is to be, part of the contract for the supply; or

(e)for the disposal of a valuable non-current asset by the grant of a lease—the grant of the lease has previously been offered by tender or auction, but a lease has not been entered into; or

(f)the Minister exempts the council from complying with section 217.

(2)An exception mentioned in subsection (1)(a) to (e) applies to the council disposing of a valuable non-current asset only if, before the disposal, the council has decided, by resolution, that the exception may apply to the council on the disposal of a valuable non-current asset other than by tender or auction.

(3)The council may only dispose of land or an interest in land under this section if the consideration for the disposal would be equal to, or more than, the market value of the land or the interest in land, including the market value of any improvements on the land.

(4)However, subsection (3) does not apply if the land or interest in land is disposed of under subsection (1)(b), (1)(c)(ii) or (1)(f).

(5)For subsection (3), a written report about the market value of land or an interest in land from a valuer registered under the Valuers Registration Act 1992 who is not an employee of the council is evidence of the market value of the land or the interest in land.

(6)An exemption under subsection (1)(f) may be given subject to conditions.

s 226 amd 2013 SL No. 10 s 5; 2014 SL No. 290 s 11

ch 6 pt 4 hdg amd 2013 SL No. 273 s 11

227Publishing details of contractual arrangements worth $200,000 or more

(1)The council must, as soon as practicable after entering into a contractual arrangement worth $200,000 or more (exclusive of GST) publish the relevant details of the contractual arrangement on the council’s website.

(2)The relevant details must be published under subsection (1) for a period of at least 12 months.

(3)Also, if a person asks the council to give relevant details of a contractual arrangement, the council must allow the person to inspect the relevant details at the council’s public office.

(4)In this section—

relevant details, of a contractual arrangement, means the following—

(a)the person with whom the council has entered into the contractual arrangement;

(b)the value of the contractual arrangement;

(c)the purpose of the contractual arrangement.

Example—

the particular goods or services to be supplied under the contractual arrangement

s 227 amd 2013 SL No. 273 s 12

228Entering into a contract under a delegation

(1)This section applies if the council delegates, under section 238 of the Act, power to make, amend or discharge a contract for the council.

Note—

The chief executive officer may delegate a power delegated by the council. See the Act, section 239.

(2)The delegate may make, amend or discharge a contract (the contractual action) for the council if—

(a)the council’s expenditure because of the contractual action has been provided for in the approved annual budget for—

(i)the financial year when the contractual action is taken; or

(ii)the financial year in which the delegation is made, if the expenditure is within the limits stated in the resolution making the delegation; or

(b)the contractual action has been taken because of genuine emergency or hardship.

(3)The delegate may take the contractual action in the same way as an individual.

(4)This section does not affect another law that requires—

(a)an approval, consent or permission to be obtained; or

(b)a procedure to be complied with for taking the contractual action.

229Period prescribed for carrying out particular approved inspection programs—Act, s 123

For section 123(4)(e) of the Act, the period prescribed for carrying out an approved inspection program is 12 months if—

(a)the program is only for the inspection of budget accommodation buildings under the Building Act; and

(b)inspection under the program is for, or includes, the monitoring of compliance with the fire safety standard under that Act.

230What div 1 is about

This division prescribes requirements for the council’s processes in deciding the remuneration payable to councillors.

231Differential remuneration

The council may decide the remuneration that is payable to councillors differentially according to the following classes of offices—

(a)the mayor;

(b)the deputy mayor;

(c)the leader of the opposition;

(d)the chairperson of the council;

(e)chairpersons of standing committees of the council;

(f)other councillors.

232Remuneration for director’s functions

(1)The council may decide additional remuneration is payable to councillors who are directors of, or shareholder delegates for, a corporatised business entity.

(2)However, the council can not differentiate between the additional remuneration payable to councillors who are directors of, or shareholder delegates for, a corporatised business entity.

233Excluded matters

(1)The remuneration can not include—

(a)any amount for expenses to be paid, or facilities to be provided, to a councillor under the council’s expenses reimbursement policy; or

(b)any contribution the council makes for a councillor to a voluntary superannuation scheme for councillors established or taken part in by the council under section 210 of the Act.

(2)However, the remuneration may include an additional amount for councillors who are over 75 years paid in lieu of the contributions mentioned in subsection (1)(b).

234Criteria for remuneration decisions

In making a decision under this division, the council must have regard to—

(a)the provisions of the Act about entitlements and responsibilities of councillors; and

(b)community expectations about what is appropriate remuneration in the circumstances.

235Publication of remuneration decisions

As soon as practicable after the council makes a decision about the remuneration payable to councillors, the council must publish details of the decision on the council’s website and in any other way the chief executive officer considers appropriate.

s 235 amd 2020 SL No. 244 s 20

236What div 2 is about

(1)This division is about the expenses reimbursement policy.

(2)The expenses reimbursement policy is a policy providing for the following—

(a)payment of reasonable expenses incurred, or to be incurred, by councillors for discharging their duties and responsibilities as councillors;

(b)provision of facilities to councillors for that purpose.

237Requirement to adopt expenses reimbursement policy or amendment

(1)The council must adopt an expenses reimbursement policy.

(2)The council may, by resolution, amend its expenses reimbursement policy at any time.

238Notification of adoption of expenses reimbursement policy

(1)As soon as practicable after the council adopts or amends its expenses reimbursement policy, the council must—

(a)ensure a copy of the policy may be viewed and purchased by the public at the council’s public office; and

(b)publish the policy on the council’s website.

(2)The price for purchasing a copy of the policy must be no more than the cost to the council of making the copy available for purchase.

239Meetings about expenses reimbursement policy

The council can not resolve under section 242J that a meeting at which a proposed expenses reimbursement policy is discussed (including its adoption or amendment, for example) be closed.

s 239 amd 2020 SL No. 156 s 4

241Declaration of office—Act, s 169

For section 169(2) of the Act, the declaration of office prescribed is—

‘I, (insert name of councillor), having been elected/appointed as a councillor of the City of Brisbane, declare that I will faithfully and impartially fulfil the duties of the office, in accordance with the local government principles under the City of Brisbane Act 2010 and the code of conduct for councillors under the Local Government Act 2009, to the best of my judgment and ability.’.

s 241 amd 2020 SL No. 52 s 3; 2020 SL No. 156 s 5

242Administrative services for councillors

(1)The council must provide each councillor with sufficient administrative services to perform their responsibilities under the Act in accordance with the local government principles.

(2)For subsection (1), a councillor’s responsibilities under the Act include any responsibilities that the councillor may have because of an office of the council that the councillor holds, including, for example, as—

(a)the chairperson; or

(b)the leader of the opposition; or

(c)a chairperson of a committee.

s 242 amd 2020 SL No. 156 s 6

242AA Councillor training—Act, s 169A

(1)For section 169A(2)(a) of the Act, the period prescribed for a councillor elected at a local government election is the period ending 6 months after the conclusion of the local government election.

(2)For section 169A(4) of the Act, the period prescribed is—

(a)for the first training approved by the department’s chief executive after the commencement of the Act, section 169A—5 business days after the commencement of this section; and

(b)otherwise—20 business days after the training is approved by the department’s chief executive.

(3)For section 169A(5)(a) of the Act, the period prescribed, for a local government election other than a by-election, is the period ending 20 business days after the conclusion of the local government election.

(4)For section 169A(7) of the Act, the following requirements are prescribed—

(a)the training is provided through an electronic system that identifies each councillor who starts the training and records when the councillor completes the training;

(b)the training relates to all of the following—

(i)the code of conduct approved under the Local Government Act, section 150E;

(ii)registers of interests required under chapter 8, part 5;

(iii)dealing with conflicts of interest under chapter 6, part 2, division 5A of the Act.

(5)In this section—

by-election see the Local Government Electoral Act 2011, schedule 2.

local government election see the Local Government Electoral Act 2011, schedule 2.

s 242AA ins 2024 SL No. 14 s 4

242AB Ordinary business matters relating to documents—Act, s 177C

For section 177C(1)(d) of the Act, the following documents are prescribed—

(a)the council’s investigation policy adopted under the Local Government Act, section 150AE;

(b)the council’s annual operational plan adopted under section 166.

s 242AB ins 2024 SL No. 14 s 4

ch 8 pt 2 hdg sub 2020 SL No. 156 s 7

ch 8 pt 2 div 1 hdg ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 8

242A What this division is about

(1)This division is about council meetings.

(2)However, this division does not apply to meetings of the audit committee.

s 242A ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 8

242B Public notice of meetings

(1)The council must, at least once in each year, publish a notice of the days and times when—

(a)its ordinary meetings will be held; and

(b)the ordinary meetings of its standing committees will be held.

(2)The notice mentioned in subsection (1) must be published on the council’s website, and in other ways the council considers appropriate.

(3)The council must display in a conspicuous place in its public office a notice of the days and times when—

(a)its meetings will be held; and

(b)meetings of its committees will be held.

(4)The council must, as soon as practicable, notify any change to the days and times mentioned in subsection (1) or (3) in the same way as the days and times were previously notified.

s 242B ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 8

242C Notice of meetings and agendas for councillors or committee members

(1)Notice of each council meeting or adjourned council meeting must be given to each councillor or committee member at least 2 days before the day of the meeting, unless it is impracticable to give the notice before that time.

(2)The notice must—

(a)state the day and time of the council meeting; and

(b)for a special meeting—state the business to be conducted at the meeting; and

(c)include the agenda for the council meeting.

(3)The notice may be given to a councillor or committee member by sending the notice to the councillor or member electronically.

s 242C ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 8

242D Public availability of agendas

(1)The council must make the agenda for a council meeting publicly available by 5p.m. on the next business day after notice of the meeting is given under section 242C.

(2)Also, the council must make a related report for a council meeting publicly available as follows—

(a)if the related report is made available to councillors or committee members before or at the time notice of the meeting is given under section 242C—when the agenda for the meeting is made publicly available under subsection (1);

(b)if the related report is made available to councillors or committee members during the relevant period for the meeting—as soon as practicable after it is made available to the councillors or committee members.

(3)However, the council need not make a related report publicly available to the extent it contains information that is confidential to the council.

(4)This section does not affect the right to discuss or deal with, at any council meeting, items arising after notice of the meeting is given under section 242C.

(5)This section does not apply to a meeting of the Establishment and Coordination Committee.

(6)In this section—

related report, for a council meeting—

(a)means a report or other document relating to an item on the agenda for the meeting that is made available to councillors or committee members for the purposes of the meeting; but

(b)does not include a summary of an investigation report or an investigation report required to be made publicly available under the Local Government Act, section 150AFA or 150AGA.

relevant period, for a council meeting, means the period—

(a)starting immediately after notice of the meeting is given under section 242C; and

(b)ending immediately before the meeting is held.

s 242D ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 8

amd 2023 Act No. 30 s 25

242E Procedure at meetings

(1)Business may be conducted at a council meeting only if a quorum is present.

(2)At a council meeting—

(a)a question is decided by a majority of the votes of the councillors or committee members present; and

(b)subject to chapter 6, part 2, division 5A of the Act, each councillor or committee member present has a vote on each question to be decided and, if the votes are equal, the person presiding at the meeting has a casting vote.

(3)At a meeting of a committee of the council, if a committee member present and entitled to vote fails to vote, the member is taken to have voted in the negative.

s 242E ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 8

242F Minutes

(1)The chief executive officer must ensure minutes of each council meeting are taken under the supervision of the person presiding at the meeting.

(2)Minutes of each council meeting must include—

(a)the names of councillors or committee members present at the meeting; and

(b)if a division is called on a question—the names of all persons voting on the question and how they voted; and

(c)each relevant report for the meeting, other than to the extent the relevant report contains information that is confidential to the council.

(3)However, the minutes of a council meeting need not include a relevant report if the relevant report has been made publicly available under section 242D.

(4)At each council meeting, the minutes of the previous meeting must be confirmed by the councillors or committee members present.

(5)A councillor or committee member present at a council meeting may vote to confirm the minutes of the previous meeting even if—

(a)the councillor or member was not present at the previous meeting; or

(b)for a councillor—the councillor had a prescribed conflict of interest or declarable conflict of interest in a matter considered, discussed or voted on at the previous meeting.

(6)A copy of the minutes of each council meeting must be made publicly available by 5p.m. on the tenth day after the meeting is held, unless the minutes are sooner confirmed.

(7)When the minutes of a council meeting have been confirmed, a copy of the confirmed minutes must be made publicly available, and available for purchase at the council’s public office, as soon as practicable after the meeting at which the minutes are confirmed is held.

(8)The price for purchasing a copy of the minutes of a council meeting must not be more than the total of—

(a)the cost to the council of having the copy printed and made available for purchase; and

(b)if the copy is supplied to a purchaser by post—the cost of postage.

(9)In this section—

relevant report, for a council meeting, means a report or other document—

(a)directly relevant to a matter considered or voted on at the meeting; or

(b)presented at the meeting for the consideration or information of the council or committee.

Examples—

•a video or recording, or a transcript of the video or recording, watched or listened to by councillors at a council meeting before making a decision

•a chart, diagram, spreadsheet or picture considered at a council meeting

•a copy of an auditor-general’s observation report presented at a meeting of the council under section 203(3)

•a petition or media release presented at a council meeting

s 242F ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 8

242G Advisory committees exempted from taking minutes

(1)The council may, by resolution, exempt an advisory committee from the requirement to take minutes of its proceedings.

(2)If the council exempts an advisory committee under subsection (1)—

(a)section 242F does not apply to the committee; and

(b)the committee must give the council a written report of the committee’s deliberations and its advice or recommendations; and

(c)for section 177X(2) or (4) of the Act, the way prescribed is by including the information in a written statement given to the council.

s 242G ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 8

242H Recording of reasons for particular decisions

(1)This section applies if a decision made at a council meeting is inconsistent with a recommendation or advice given to the council by an advisor of the council and either or both of the following apply to the decision—

(a)the decision is about entering into a contract the total value of which is more than the greater of the following—

(i)$200,000 exclusive of GST;

(ii)1% of the council’s net rate and utility charges as stated in the council’s audited financial statements included in the council’s most recently adopted annual report;

(b)the decision is inconsistent with a policy of the council, or the approach ordinarily followed by the council for the type of decision.

Examples of decisions to which this section might apply—

•the grant of a licence, permit or approval, however named, under an Act or local law

•the grant of a concession, rebate or waiver in relation to an amount owed to the council

•the disposal of land or a non-current asset

(2)Also, this section applies if a decision is made at a council meeting about a conduct breach under the Local Government Act, section 150AG that is inconsistent with a recommendation made by the entity who conducted the investigation into the conduct.

(3)The chief executive officer must ensure the minutes of the council meeting include a statement of the reasons for not adopting the recommendation or advice.

(4)In this section—

advisor, of the council, means a person—

(a)who is an employee of the council or is otherwise engaged to provide services to the council; and

(b)whose duties include giving a recommendation or advice.

s 242H ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 8

amd 2023 Act No. 30 s 26

242I Meetings in public unless otherwise resolved

(1)A council meeting is open to the public unless the council or committee has resolved that the meeting is to be closed under section 242J.

(2)This section does not apply to a meeting of the Establishment and Coordination Committee.

s 242I ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 8

242J Closed meetings

(1)The council may resolve that all or part of a meeting of the council be closed to the public.

(2)A committee of the council may resolve that all or part of a meeting of the committee be closed to the public.

(3)However, the council or a committee of the council may make a resolution about a council meeting under subsection (1) or (2) only if its councillors or members consider it necessary to close the meeting to discuss one or more of the following matters—

(a)the appointment, discipline or dismissal of the chief executive officer or a senior executive employee;

(b)industrial matters affecting employees;

(c)the council’s budget;

(d)rating concessions;

(e)legal advice obtained by the council or legal proceedings involving the council including, for example, legal proceedings that may be taken by or against the council;

(f)matters that may directly affect the health and safety of an individual or group of individuals;

(g)negotiations relating to a commercial matter involving the council for which a public discussion would be likely to prejudice the interests of the council;

(h)negotiations relating to the taking of land by the council under the Acquisition of Land Act 1967;

(i)a matter the council is required to keep confidential under a law of, or formal arrangement with, the Commonwealth or a State;

(j)an investigation report given to the council under the Local Government Act, chapter 5A, part 3, division 5.

(4)However, the council or a committee of the council must not resolve that a part of a council meeting at which a decision mentioned in section 177O(2), 177P(3) or 177R(2) of the Act will be considered, discussed, voted on or made be closed.

(5)A resolution that a council meeting be closed must—

(a)state the matter mentioned in subsection (3) that is to be discussed; and

(b)include an overview of what is to be discussed while the meeting is closed.

(6)The council or a committee of the council must not make a resolution (other than a procedural resolution) in a council meeting, or a part of a council meeting, that is closed.

s 242J ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 8

amd 2023 Act No. 30 s 27

242K Participating in meetings by audio link or audio visual link

(1)The council may allow a person to take part in a meeting of the council by audio link or audio visual link.

(2)A committee of the council may allow a person to take part in a meeting of the committee by audio link or audio visual link.

(3)A councillor or committee member who takes part in a council meeting under subsection (1) or (2) is taken to be present at the meeting if the councillor or member was simultaneously in audio contact with each other person at the meeting.

(4)In this section—

audio link see the Evidence Act 1977, section 39C.

audio visual link see the Evidence Act 1977, schedule 3.

s 242K ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 8

ch 8 pt 2 div 2 hdg ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 8

243What this division is about

This division is about the meetings of the council (other than meetings of its committees).

s 243 amd 2020 SL No. 156 s 9

244Agenda of post-election meetings

(1)The matters the council must consider at a post-election meeting include the day and time for holding other meetings.

(2)A post-election meeting is the meeting mentioned in section 177(1) of the Act.

245Frequency and place of meetings

(1)The council may decide how often it is to meet.

(2)However, the council must hold an extraordinary council meeting or a special council meeting if requested by the mayor or 9 or more of its councillors.

(3)An extraordinary council meeting is a meeting of the council that is in addition to any meetings of the council decided under subsection (1).

(4)All meetings of the council are to be held—

(a)at 1 of the council’s public offices; or

(b)for a particular meeting—at another place fixed by the council, by resolution, for the meeting.

(5)A special meeting is an extraordinary council meeting at which the only business that may be conducted is the business stated in the notice of meeting.

248Quorum at meetings

(1)A quorum of the council is a majority of its councillors.

(2)However, if the number of councillors is an even number, one-half of the number is a quorum.

251Adjournment of meetings

(1)The majority of councillors present at a meeting of the council may adjourn the meeting to a later hour of the same day or to a later day.

(2)If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes after the time appointed for a meeting, the meeting may be adjourned to a later hour or another day within 14 days after the day of adjournment, by—

(a)a majority of the councillors present; or

(b)if only 1 councillor is present—the councillor; or

(c)if no councillors are present—the chief executive officer.

252Repeal or amendment of resolutions

A resolution of the council may be repealed or amended only if written notice of intention to propose the repeal or amendment is given to each councillor at least 5 days before the meeting at which the proposal is to be made.

ch 8 pt 2 div 3 hdg ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 13

253What this division is about

(1)This division is about committees of the council.

(2)However, this division does not apply to the audit committee.

s 253 prev s 253 om 2020 SL No. 156 s 12

pres s 253 ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 13

254Advisory committees

(1)An advisory committee—

(a)must not be appointed as a standing committee; and

(b)may include in its members persons who are not councillors.

(2)A member of an advisory committee (whether or not they are a councillor) may vote on business before the committee.

s 254 prev s 254 om 2020 SL No. 156 s 12

pres s 254 ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 13

254A Alternate members of committees

(1)If the council appoints a committee, the council may appoint 1 person as an alternate member of the committee.

(2)An alternate member of a committee is a person who attends meetings of the committee and acts as a member of the committee whenever another member of the committee is absent from the meeting of the committee.

(3)However, for a meeting of a standing committee of the council, the alternate member may attend and act as a member of the committee for the mayor only if the mayor is the chairperson of the committee.

s 254A ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 13

254B Frequency of meetings

Meetings of a committee are held at the times and places decided by the committee.

s 254B ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 13

255 Quorum

(1)A quorum of a committee is a majority of its members.

(2)However, if the number of members is an even number, one-half of the number is a quorum.

(3)Subsection (4) applies if—

(a)the mayor is a member of a standing committee of the council, other than the chairperson of the committee; and

(b)the mayor is not present at a meeting of the committee.

(4)For working out a quorum for the meeting, the mayor is not counted as a member of the committee.

s 255 prev s 255 om 2020 SL No. 156 s 12

pres s 255 ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 13

ch 8 pt 2B hdg ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 20

255H Number of councillor advisors each councillor may appoint—Act, s 194C

For section 194C(1)(a) of the Act, the following number of councillor advisors is prescribed—

(a)for the mayor—10;

(b)for the leader of the opposition—4;

(c)for the chairperson of the council unless the chairperson is the leader of the opposition—2;

(d)for a chairperson of a standing committee of the council unless the chairperson is a councillor mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c)—2;

(e)for another councillor—1.

s 255H ins 2020 SL No. 156 s 20

256What div 1 is about

This division prescribes, for section 194(2) of the Act, when the chief executive officer may take, and the types of, disciplinary action.

257When disciplinary action may be taken

The chief executive officer may take disciplinary action against a council employee if the chief executive officer is satisfied the employee has—

(a)failed to perform their responsibilities under the Act; or

(b)failed to perform a responsibility under the Act in accordance with the local government principles; or

(c)taken action under the Act in a way that is not consistent with the local government principles.

258Types of disciplinary action

(1)The disciplinary action taken by the chief executive officer against a council employee may be 1 or more of the following—

(a)dismissal;

(b)demotion, including a reduction in remuneration;

Examples of demotion of a council employee—

•a reduction in the classification level of the council employee’s employment and a corresponding change in the employee’s duties

•a reduction in the council employee’s level of remuneration within the classification level of the employee’s employment

(c)a written reprimand or warning.

Note—

If the disciplinary action to be taken is dismissal, the dismissal must comply with the requirements that apply in relation to the local government employee under the Industrial Relations Act 1999, chapter 2A or 3.

(2)A written reprimand or warning—

(a)must state the following—

(i)the employee’s conduct that is disapproved of;

(ii)the remedial action needed to rectify the conduct;

(iii)the period within which the remedial action is to be taken;

(iv)the possible consequences for a repeat of the conduct by the employee; and

(b)is part of a council employee’s employment record.

s 258 amd 2013 SL No. 260 s 4; 2024 SL No. 75 s 4