Probity

The Civic Place Probity Plan provides a full statement of probity processes to be followed in the advertising, assessment, selection and contracting of tenderers for the Civic Place Project, for contracts with a value of more than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

In its commercial dealings, the Willoughby City Council will observe the highest standards of probity. Council business must be fair, open and demonstrate the highest levels of integrity consistent with the public interest.

The key probity principles supporting all stages of the Civic Place Project are:

  • Fairness and impartiality
    Potential tenderers are to be treated equally and must have the same opportunity to access information and advice.
  • Use of a competitive process
    Consistent with legislative requirements, a competitive process will be used at all times.
  • Consistency and transparency of process
    Tenderers are to be evaluated in a systematic manner against explicit predetermined evaluation criteria.
  • Security and confidentiality
    The processes adopted for receiving and managing supplier information are to ensure the security and confidentiality of intellectual property and proprietary information.
  • Identification and resolution of conflicts of interest
    Any person involved in the tender process is to declare and address any actual or perceived Conflict of Interest prior to undertaking any quote or tender evaluation.

These key requirements are intended to achieve an equitable, justifiable and sound process according equal opportunity for all tenderers. The process is to be applied with common sense, with flexibility in process design where appropriate, so that the task of selecting the best tender in a fair and equitable manner takes priority.

Adherence to Probity Principles also means meeting the requirements of the Local Government Act (NSW) 1993 and the Willoughby City Council Code of Conduct (2005).

All employees will:
(a) act impartially; and
(b) act with integrity including avoiding real or apparent conflicts of interest.

Legal

Council has resolved that consultants are to be contractually appointed on a stage-by-stage basis, as each previous stage is completed to Council’s satisfaction and on confirmation that that funding is available for the next stage.

Probity Auditing

Council has appointed Deloitte to undertake probity assessments as required.