governance · Orange City Council
Orange councillor expense rules sent back for changes as engagement policy passes
Council adopted its Community Engagement policy unanimously but deferred rules covering carer costs, technology, legal expenses and reporting.
Orange City Council has adopted Strategic Policy ST20, Community Engagement, while sending its councillor expenses policy back for changes affecting elected members and the way their costs are reported.
The council voted unanimously on 4 August to adopt ST20 and defer Strategic Policy ST03, Councillor Expenses & Provision of Facilities. The policy will return after updates discussed at the meeting are added, but no date was set for another decision.
Cr F Kinghorne asked for ST03 to address increases to carer costs based on the consumer price index, annual maintenance of phones and information technology equipment, legal costs linked to Code of Conduct complaints and the frequency of expense reporting to council.
The discussion also covered a $60,000 shared pool for councillor conference attendance, a $1,500 allocation per councillor for professional development, a $450 corporate uniform allowance and the definition of “reasonable expenses” for taxi reimbursements.
Council’s Director Corporate & Commercial Services said the chief executive officer could permit professional development spending above the $1,500 allocation. The officer also said the corporate uniform provision for councillors was the same as for staff and that the wording around the $450 allowance could be clarified.
On legal costs, the chief executive officer said councillors would always be advised when a Code of Conduct complaint was raised against them and would receive written advice about the procedure.
The Manager Corporate Governance said a preliminary investigation would take place after a complaint was received. If a complaint was valid, could not be resolved by alternative means and required a full investigation, councillors would have an opportunity to respond, which could trigger legal representation under the policy.
The adopted Community Engagement policy will guide how residents engage with Orange City Council. The separate report on councillor expenses and facilities for the 2025/2026 financial year was noted without opposition.
Reference minutes
This report is based on decisions made by Orange City Council at its ordinary meeting held on 4 August 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Orange City Council adopted Strategic Policy ST20, Community Engagement, unanimously on 4 August 2026.
- Strategic Policy ST03, Councillor Expenses & Provision of Facilities, was deferred for updates.
- Requested changes include CPI increases for carer costs, phone and information technology maintenance, legal costs for Code of Conduct complaints and expense-reporting frequency.
- The discussion referred to a $60,000 shared councillor conference-attendance pool and a $1,500 per-councillor professional development allocation.
- The expenses policy will return for consideration at a future meeting, but no date was specified.
Why it matters
- Residents now have an adopted framework for engaging with Orange City Council, while the rules governing councillor benefits, legal costs and expense reporting remain subject to further changes.