Chief Executive Officer and staff
The policy framework and the strategic management plans endorsed by councils give the direction for their ongoing management and operation.
The Local Government Act 1999 provides for the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as the senior member of the staff. As the manager, the CEO is responsible for ensuring that the policies and decisions of the council are implemented. The CEO also has a responsibility to act as an adviser to his or her Council and to ensure that the Council acts within the law.
Frequently asked questions about Chief Executive Officers and Staff:
1) What are the powers of a Council’s CEO?
Councillors do not have direct authority over any employees with respect to the way in which employees perform their duties and they have no role in employing staff, except for the employment of the CEO.
Councils delegate wide powers, functions and duties to the CEO and employees through resolutions at a council meeting. Read more about Council decision making... CEOs may also delegate their powers or functions to employees of councils. This enables many routine matters to be acted on promptly, and facilitates more efficient administration and operation, and better service to residents.
2) What are the general roles of a council’s CEO?
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To ensure that the policies and lawful decisions of the council are implemented in a timely and efficient manner.
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To undertake responsibility for the day to day operations and affairs of the council.
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To provide advice and reports to the council on the exercise of and performance of its powers under the Local Government Act and any other Act.
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To co-ordinate proposals for consideration by the council for developing objectives, policies and programs for the area.
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To provide information to the council to assist the council to assess performance against its strategic management plans.
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To ensure that timely and accurate information about council policies and programs is regularly provided to the council's community, and to ensure that appropriate and prompt responses are given to specific requests for information made to the council.
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To ensure that the assets and resources of council are properly managed and maintained.
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To ensure that records are properly kept and maintained.
The CEO is responsible for ensuring that a suitable organisational structure and appropriately skilled staff members are employed, and for ensuring sound principles of human resource management are applied to all aspects of employment.
The CEO must ensure that employees are suitably trained, have safe working environments, and are able to do their jobs effectively. This is achieved through providing proper equipment and adequate instruction and training for the work involved. This is an important aspect of Councils’ duty of care to its residents and ratepayers.
CEOs and other relevant employees are required to act honestly and with reasonable care and diligence in performing their duties, to comply with Codes of Conduct adopted by Councils, and submit a return for the register of interests.
The CEO and employees must disclose any interest in a matter in relation to which they have authority to act in the course of carrying out official duties.