Legal and Governance

Unique IDAG-0106DescriptionThis Agency is deemed to have been created on 1 January 1993, following the Council decision of 21 December 1992 to adopt the new management structure proposed by consultants Ernst & Young. From 1993 until 30 June 1997 it was known as Corporate Secretary. From 1 July 1997 the name was changed to Legal and Secretariat Services. From 21 June 2001 the name was changed to General Counsel. From 31 May 2005 the name was changed to Legal and Business Services. From December 2006 the name was changed to Legal Services. From November 2008 the name was changed to Legal and Corporate Governance; From March 2010 the name was changed to Legal and Governance.

The agency is responsible for provision of legal services to the Council (both the corporation and administration, and including administration of the Government Information (Public Access) Act (2009). From 1 July 1997 until about 1 December 2005 it was also responsible for secretarial services for the meetings of the Council and Committees. From time to time other responsibilities have been allocated.

The first (Acting) Corporate Secretary was Graham Joss, who relinquished his position as Town Clerk on the commencement of the first General Manager in December 1992. Joss left Council service and Andrew Thompson replaced him as Corporate Secretary in mid 1993. Andrew Thompson left Council on 4 June 1997, and on 30 June 1997, Sue Puckeridge was appointed as Director of the renamed Legal and Secretariat Services. Petar Vladeta (Solicitor, Legal Services) took over as Acting Director (later 'General Counsel') from mid 2000 until he resigned in mid 2008. Marcia Doheny was appointed as the new General Council, Director of Legal and Compliance in November 2008.

In late 2009 the Governance Unit, including the existing Council Business Unit and Public Access Management Unit (previously the FOI Unit), joined the new Legal and Corporate Governance Division. The FOI Unit was renamed the Public Access Management Unit to reflect the fact that it also deals with other matters under the Local Goverment Act for access to Council documents in addition to pending legislative changes: on 1 July 2010 the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (the GIPA Act) replaced the Freedom of Information Act 1989 (NSW).

The activities of Risk Management and Internal Audit were transferred to the division from Corporate Services on 17 January 2011.

CreationResolution of Council 21 December 1992.
Renamed (Legal and Secretariat Services) 1 July 1997. Renamed (General Counsel) by Resolution of Council 21 June 2001. Renamed (Legal and Business Services) in revised organisation chart 31 May 2005. Renamed (Legal Services) by December 2006. Renamed (Legal and Corporate Governance) in November 2008. Renamed (Legal and Governance) by March 2010.

Series

Priorities and Outcomes Committee Agenda Papers

General Correspondence and Subject Files

Councillors' Information Service

General Correspondence and Subject Files

Printed Duplicates of Minutes of Council, 1971 - ongoing [City of Sydney]

Electoral Rolls, 1888-2004 [Municipal Council of Sydney / City of Sydney]

Minutes of Council, 1842 - ongoing [Municipal Council of Sydney / City of Sydney]

Agency

Office of the CEO and Councillor Support

Description

Start date1st January 1993End date1st January 1993Relationship legacy dataPRECEDED BY: Corporate Services AG-0111 (17/01/2011) - Risk Management and Internal Audit transferred to Legal and Governence
PRECEDED BY: Information Services AG-0004 (01/01/1993) - Responsibility for Freedom of Information
PRECEDED BY: Civic Affairs AG-0030 (01/01/1993) - Services to Councillors
PRECEDED BY: Treasury II AG-0027 (01/01/1993) - Responsibilities for legal and electoral matters
PRECEDED BY: South Sydney City Council Corporate Services Department AG-0214 (08/05/2003) - Legal services for transferred areas
PRECEDED BY: South Sydney City Council Corporate Services Department AG-0214 (06/02/2004) - Legal services
PRECEDED BY: Secretariat AG-0015 (30/06/1997)
PRECEDED BY: City Solicitor AG-0074 (01/01/1994) - In-house Legal department created under the Corporate Secretary
RELATED TO: Sydney City Council OR-0001 (01/01/1993)
RELATED TO: Council administration FN-0026 (01/01/1993)
RELATED TO: Governance of the Council FN-0021 (01/01/1993)
RELATED TO: Electoral administration FN-0017 (01/01/1993 to 12/02/1999)
SUBORDINATE AGENCY: City Solicitor AG-0074 (01/01/1993 to 31/08/1994)
SUBORDINATE AGENCY: Secretariat AG-0015 (01/01/1993 to 30/06/1997)
Source System ID106

Relationships

Preceding agenciesCity SolicitorSecretariatSouth Sydney City Council Corporate Services DepartmentTreasury IICivic AffairsInformation ServicesCorporate ServicesSubordinate agenciesSecretariatCity SolicitorOrganisationSydney City CouncilRelated functionsElectoral administrationGovernance of the CouncilCouncil administration

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Legal and Governance