Oaths of office, fidelity bonds and duties of disclosure

Unique IDAY-0092Description*** This activity applies to all Councils ***

This activity refers to oaths bonds and statutory obligations connected with the proper discharge of Council duties, not to oaths of loyalty to the Crown etc. The 1842 Act specified that Councillors and Aldermen once elected must swear that they were qualified to hold office by virtue of the value of their property. Servants of the Council were, at the discretion of the Council, to give security for the due performance of their responsibilities (in particular to account for funds under their care).

Provisions for oaths and bonds do not appear in the Local Government Act 1919, which was applied to Sydney City Council from 1 January 1949. Fidelity bond provisions do continue to appear in Sydney City Council specific legislation up to the last major Sydney Corporation Act (1932).

Duties of disclosure refers to the accountability of Council members and staff to the elected Council and the community. It more specifically refers to the managing of pecuniary interests and the disclosure of interests that may influence an individual at Council - Local Government Act 1993 No 30 Chapter 14 Part 2 - Duties of disclosure
CreationSydney Corporation Act 1842, s53 (oaths of office), s65 (fidelity bonds).

Municipalities Act 1858 s44 (declaration of office), s58 (fidelity bonds) - for Councils other than the City of Sydney

Local Government Act 1919, Section 30, Sub-section 5

Local Government Act 1993 No 30 Chapter 14 Part 2 - Duties of disclosure AbolitionLocal Government Act 1919 (applied to Sydney City Council from 1949) did not allow for oaths of office or fidelity bonds.

Series

Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest Return Forms - Councillors, Central Sydney Planning Committee (CSPC) Members and Designated Staff

City Solicitor's Letters

Declarations by Aldermen and Officers

South Sydney Municipal Council Aldermen's Disclosure Book, 1971-1972

Town Clerk's Correspondence Folders, 1899-1913

Letters Received, 1843-1899 [Municipal Council of Sydney]

Description

Start date1st November 1842End date1st November 1842Relationship legacy dataRELATED TO: Suburban municipal government FN-0029 (03/08/1859 to 01/01/1919)
RELATED TO: Governance of the Council FN-0021 (01/11/1842 to 31/12/1948)
RELATED TO: Council administration FN-0026 (01/11/1842 to 31/12/1948)

Identification

Source system ID92

Relationships

FunctionCouncil administrationGovernance of the CouncilSuburban municipal government

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Oaths of office, fidelity bonds and duties of disclosure