Overview

A revised draft Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy (POL 025) has been prepared in accordance with Section 252 of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), following a review of the current policy against the existing model policy developed by the Office of Local Government (OLG). The draft policy has been tailored to reflect Wagga Wagga City Council’s local context while ensuring consistency with legislative requirements and sector expectations.

The review has aimed to simplify and clarify the policy to improve its usability, remove internal duplication, and eliminate overlaps with other governance documents, such as the Code of Conduct. The result is a clearer and more transparent reference document for councillors and the community.

As part of the update, the draft policy proposes an increase to the annual budget allocation for councillor professional development in line with the current draft budget and introduces career development provisions to support the ongoing capability and leadership of elected representatives.

The draft policy aligns with the Local Government Act 1993, the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021, and the structure and intent of the OLG’s existing model policy.

To facilitate public consultation, it is recommended that the draft Policy be placed on public exhibition for a period of 28 days from 8 July 2025, inviting public submissions until the 19 August 2025.