Mr Jim Levy
General Manager
Eurobodalla Shire Council 28 January 2005
PO Box 99 MORUYA 2537

Dear Jim,

Thankyou for your invitation to us to write to yourself and the Mayor with our suggestions for the Code of Conduct for Council. We write to you in good faith and hope that our ideas will be debated at the relevant workshop with a view to improving the image and workings of Council Committees.

In order to improve the transparency of Council Committees and create a climate of greater trust between the various stakeholders we suggest.

1. Councillors who are members of groups that receive substantial donations for election purposes should declare Conflict of Interest if donor individuals, companies, partnerships or other entities place before Council any DA's, tender documents or other applications for their consideration.

2. All declarations need to be made in open meetings of Council and minuted. If declarations are made in closed meetings then they need to be recorded in an appropriate way for public scrutiny.

3. In the instance of Councillors, staff or committee members being lobbied for any variations to Council policies the applicant should be informed to put their case in writing to the General Manager.

4. The Conduct Committee should be proactive and work closely with the General Manager. The Model Code of Conduct suggests that the Conduct Committee independently review disclosures and breaches but relies on voluntary disclosure and whistle blowing. Coastwatchers would like the Conduct Committee to utilise some of the management tools provided by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) to test the internal workings of Council. This is extremely sensitive exercise and is not meant to lead to any disciplinary actions but merely is intended to test the veracity of the workings of the organization.

Jim, once again thankyou for this opportunity to place our suggestions before the upcoming workshop and should you need to discuss this matter further with Coastwatchers contact either Mark Fleming 4478 6377 or Jenny Edwards 4471 5032.

Please give a copy of this letter to the Mayor, Fergus Thomson. If you would like to distribute copies to the Councillors please feel free to do so.

Yours sincerely

Mark Fleming for Jenny Edwards (Secretary)