Business with Council

Ku-ring-gai Council is dedicated to upholding the highest ethical standards among Councillors, Council staff and all individuals and organisations conducting business with Council. These standards are detailed in the Council’s Code of Conduct, supporting policies, and relevant NSW legislation.

As a supplier of goods or services, you are required to do business with Council in line with these ethical standards and legal obligations. Our community rightly expects Council’s affairs to be managed with efficiency, impartiality, and integrity, ensuring the public interest always comes before private interests.

Any breach of these standards or legal requirements by you, your employees, agents, or organisation could harm your relationship with Council, disrupt official dealings, or lead to legal action.

Procurement

If you do business with Council, you must abide by Council’s conditions of offer and contractual requirements. Conditions can be found in the Purchase Order or in the agreements that are signed in relation to the goods or service that are provided. Ku-ring-gai utilises its own suite of agreements and from time to time will utilise Australian Standard contracts.

Conflicts of interest

To maintain the confidence and trust of the local community, it is essential that the actions and decisions of any Council official involved in dealings with your business are, as far as practicable, free from conflicts of interest - and are also clearly seen by any reasonable person to be so.

A conflict of interest may arise if a Council official has a personal or financial interest that could influence, or reasonably be seen to influence, how they perform their duties in relation to your business. This includes situations where the official is your immediate family member, domestic partner, associate, or friend, which could create a perception of undue influence.

Both you and the relevant Council official must identify and declare any actual or potential conflicts of interest. Declarations should be made at the time of submitting a Request for Quote or Tender, or whenever a conflict of interest becomes known.

General conduct

You, your employees, and agents must avoid any behaviour that breaches Council’s ethical standards. This includes conduct that:

  • Is improper or unethical.
  • Contravenes the Local Government Act, other applicable legislation, or Council’s Code of Conduct, Fraud and Corruption Prevention Policy, and Ethical Governance: Code of Conduct Policy.
  • Constitutes an abuse of power or other forms of misconduct.
  • Causes, involves, or perpetuates prejudice or discrimination in delivering services to the community.
  • Includes verbal abuse, harassment, or intimidation; and
  • Fails to respect Council’s responsibilities to the community and the environment.

Gifts and benefits

Council officials must never solicit or request gifts or benefits for themselves or others in connection with their Council duties. We kindly ask that you do not offer any gifts or benefits to Council staff or Councillors, as doing so may jeopardise your business relationship with Council and compromise the integrity of the Council official involved.

Any offer of cash or equivalent to a Council official will be reported immediately to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

Breaches of Council Ethical Policy Standards

As a Council consultant, contractor or supplier, you must act in line with our standards. Breaches may result in disciplinary action for Council officials, sanctions being applied to your business, and referral to bodies such as the NSW Ombudsman, ICAC and the Police.

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