Board meetings and decisions (3) An overview This guidance note is for use by board members of the over 100 major public entities and other statutory boards, committees, councils, panels, etc. in the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) portfolio, including large (category 1 and 2) committees of management of crown land reserves. Guidance notes and model policies for these agencies can be downloaded from DELWP’s governance website, On Board (), in particular, see the support module. Guidance for small voluntary (category 3) committees of management is available from . Introduction recovery groups (WRRGs). Both are available from the support module on DELWP’s governance website, On Board (www.delwp.vic.gov.au/onboard). The purpose of meetings is to enable board members to exchange information and views, consider issues, and Duty as a board member make decisions that are in the public interest (the best interests of the agency). The board is collectively As a board member, you have a duty to act in the public accountable to the portfolio Minister for its actions and interest. You should ensure that: decisions. your board has a suitable policy in place Board meetings and decisions the culture fosters compliance with its policy you personally comply with the policy at all times. policy role at board meetings Your board must have a Board Meetings and Decisions policy in place that fulfils its legal obligations and The chair presides at board meetings. If the chair is complies with good public sector governance practice. absent, the deputy chair presides. If the deputy chair is also absent or a deputy chair has not been appointed, the To assist, DELWP offers a model policy. board members present decide which of them will Your policy should be consistent with DELWP’s preside at the meeting. The chair or presiding member model policy. ensures that: If your agency’s establishing Act has specific requirements all relevant policies (in particular, all boards policies), in relation to meetings and decisions, the policy can the Register of Interests, and the Register of Gifts, be adapted to include these. Benefits and Hospitality are available at the meeting for use by board members; In addition to the standard model policy for major DELWP agencies, there is a model policy for waste and resource
Board meetings and decisions (3) An overview This guidance note is for use by board members of the over 100 major public entities and other statutory boards, committees, councils, panels, etc. in the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) portfolio, including large (category 1 and 2) committees of management of crown land reserves. Guidance notes and model policies for these agencies can be downloaded from DELWP’s governance website, On Board (), in particular, see the support module. Guidance for small voluntary (category 3) committees of management is available from . Introduction The purpose of meetings is to enable board members to exchange information and views, consider issues, and make decisions that are in the public interest (the best interests of the agency). The board is collectively accountable to the portfolio Minister for its actions and decisions. Board meetings and decisions policy Your board must have a Board Meetings and Decisions policy in place that fulfils its legal obligations and complies with good public sector governance practice. To assist, DELWP offers a model policy. Your policy should be consistent with DELWP’s model policy. If your agency’s establishing Act has specific requirements in relation to meetings and decisions, the policy can be adapted to include these. In addition to the standard model policy for major DELWP agencies, there is a model policy for waste and resource recovery groups (WRRGs). Both are available from the support module on DELWP’s governance website, On Board (www.delwp.vic.gov.au/onboard). Duty as a board member As a board member, you have a duty to act in the public interest. You should ensure that: your board has a suitable policy in place the culture fosters compliance with its policy you personally comply with the policy at all times. role at board meetings The chair presides at board meetings. If the chair is absent, the deputy chair presides. If the deputy chair is also absent or a deputy chair has not been appointed, the board members present decide which of them will preside at the meeting. The chair or presiding member ensures that: all relevant policies (in particular, all boards policies), the Register of Interests, and the Register of Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality are available at the meeting for use by board members;
2015-MEETS-03-GN-OVERVIEW-MAJOR-55.00.docx