Local Government

Social media is an effective tool to communicate in an accessible and informal format to a wide audience. It enables councils to interact and share information with the community instantaneously – providing a quick response to community issues. For councillors it provides the opportunity to publicise achievements, campaign for elections, and address constituents beyond traditional formats.

One way councillors can be informed of their responsibilities is through the issue of policy and procedures. State Records NSW has created a sample records management policy and procedures for councillors that can be modified by councils to suit their needs.

Council websites are key information sites for ratepayers and are increasingly the sites of much local government business. Because Council business is documented and performed on your website, it is important to make sure that you are making and keeping records of this business.

The Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Councils 2018 requires that from 14 December 2019:

NSW public offices collect personal contact information for a number of purposes, such as:

NSW local government councils are 'public offices' as defined in section 3 (1) of the State Records Act 1998. This page contains guidance that will assist local councils to make and keep records appropriately and comply with their obligations under the Act.

State Records NSW has developed a set of model access directions for local government records. They are based on the Attorney General's Guidelines for making access directions and were made after consultation with metropolitan and regional councils.

The model directions are not definitive and some councils may find they need to add to them or draft new directions to ensure appropriate coverage and public access.

Please contact MHNSW for the Register of Access Directions. 

This Advice provides some information around questions NSW State Records has received in relation to Council amalgamations.