Manuals, Codes & Guidelines

The LGA has prepared a wide range of manuals, codes, guidelines and model documents to assist Councils with their statutory and leadership responsibilities.

Most of our Manuals, Codes & Guidelines are listed below. A number of manuals, which are provided free to member Councils but for a fee to the private sector or interstate Councils, are only found on our secure site area for Councils.

For further information on finance policies please refer to the LGA's Finance Page.

For further information on Financial Sustainability please refer to the LGA's Financial Sustainability Page.  

LG FS Info Paper 3 - Audit Committees - 2012(388 kb)

Budget Format (93 kb)

Costing Principles for Local Government(854 kb)

Finance - Emergency Services Assets - Guidelines for Accounting for the Transfer of - LGA - 2000 (171 kb)

Finance - Fees and Charges Guide to GST - Div. 81 - LGA - 2002 - Word Version (917 kb)

Finance - GST Implementation Manual - LGA - 2000 (523 kb)

Finance - Investment Policy & Review of Investments - 2002 - Word Version (200 kb)

Financial Internal Controls - Better Practice Model  (800 kb)

Financial Sustainability Info Paper 15 - Treasury Management - 2012 (148 kb)

Financial Sustainability Info Paper 20 - Rating and Other Funding Policy Options - 2012 (215 kb)

Financial Sustainability Info Paper 21 - Internal Financial Controls - 2012 (253 kb)

Financial Sustainability Info Paper 26 - Service Range and Levels - 2012 (208 kb)

Financial Sustainability Info Paper 27 - Prudential Management - March 2012 (304 kb)

Model Rating Policy (2012) (215 kb)

Rating - Generic Rates Model Land Use Fixed Charge (4543 kb)

Rating - Generic Rates Model Land Use Minimum Rate (4544 kb)

Rating - Generic Rates Model Locality Fixed Charge (4560 kb)

Rating 2005 - website good practice guide (34 kb)

Policy & Procedures

Allowances and Benefits for Council Members - Model Policy(256 kb)

Burial and Cremation Act 2013 – Model Policy and Guide(1011 kb)

Caretaker - Model Policy(527 kb)

Caretaker Guidelines(543 kb)

Complaints Handling - Model Procedure (145 kb)

Complaints Handling - Model Procedures Attachment A (33 kb)

Complaints Handling - Model Procedures Attachment B (239 kb)

Complaints Policy - Model Policy (125 kb)

LGA Guide Policy for Disposal of Land and Assets. (94 kb)

Fraud and Corruption Prevention Policy - model policy(165 kb)

Freedom of Information Statement - Model Statement(120 kb)

Induction for New Councils - Model Policy(77 kb)

Internal Review of a Council Decision - Model Policy and Procedure (138 kb)

Interaction of the Development_FOI and Copyright Acts - Model Policy(418 kb)

Leases Licences and Permits Policy-Model Policy(90 kb)

Naming Roads and Public Places - Model Policy (289 kb)

Order Making Model Policy(138 kb)

LGA Guide Procurement Policy (91 kb)

Records Management Model Policy(126 kb)

Requests for Services under Section 270 Model Policy (117 kb)

Requests for Services under Section 270 Model Procedures (130 kb)

Training and Development Policy and Plan for Council Members - Model Policy(134 kb)

Whistleblower Protection Policy - Model Policy(131 kb)

Codes & Guidelines

Access to Council and Committee Meetings and Documents - Model Code of Practice (655 kb)

Annual Business Plans - Guidelines (174 kb)

Annual Report Guidelines (196 kb)

By-Laws Guidelines (188 kb)

CEO Checklist 2014(117 kb)

Choosing a Chairperson or Deputy Mayor or Deputy Chairperson - Guidelines(139 kb)

Code of Conduct for Council Members(33 kb)

Code of Conduct - Code for Council Employees as gazetted(38 kb)

Code of Conduct - Complaint Handling Procedure - model procedure(35 kb)

Code of Conduct Template for Employees of Subsidiaries(145 kb)

Code of Conduct for Volunteers - Model Code(163 kb) 

Competition Policy and Competitive Neutrality - LGA Guide(719 kb)

Confidentiality Guidelines - Applying Section 90 (1361 kb)

Conflict of Interest Guidelines (199 kb)

Committee Members' Guide(430 kb)

Council Members Guide 2014 (1125 kb)

Council policies and Codes of Practice and Codes of Conduct - Guidelines for Preparing  (217 kb)

Councillor Allowances - Taxation Implications (136 kb)

Councillors and Chief Executive Officers role in Local Government (268 kb)

Election Signs Guidelines - General Approval for Placing Election Signs(144 kb)

Gifts and Benefits - Guidelines under the Codes of Conduct(1588 kb)

Inducting and Training New Councils 2010 PDF (437 kb)

Key Dates Table 2015 Guidelines for Council Action(684 kb)

Meeting Procedures Handbook 2013(1617 kb)

Minute Takers Handbook

Obtaining Legal Advice Guidelines (206 kb)

Primary and Ordinary Returns - for Council Members(204 kb)

Primary and Ordinary Returns - for Council Officers(192 kb)

Public Consultation Guideline (185 kb)

Reporting Council Operating Expenditure Guide(230 kb)

Representation Review, Guidelines for Council Undertaking (624 kb)

Road Closures (Temporary) - Guidelines(182 kb)

LGA Guide to Preparing a strategic management plan (400 kb)

Subsidiaries and Committees of Council - Establishment Guidelines  (271 kb)

2014 Council Election Resources

Please visit http://www.lga.sa.gov.au/electionresources to obtain 2014 Council Election resources.

Information Papers

Delegations Information Paper (92 kb)

Good Administrative Practice-Information Paper (157 kb)

Preparing for Fire Danger Days (940 kb) 

Property Units Code - CWMS (41 kb) 

Volunteer Passport Deed (100 kb) 

Arts and Culture Project - Guidelines (92 kb)    

Building and Swimming Pool Inspection Policy- Model Policy.(73 kb)

Child safe environments guidelines (190 kb)

Community Engagement Handbook - March 2008 (926 kb)

Community Land - Classification and Management Plans Guidelines (191 kb)

Council Development Assessment Planning Complaint Handling Policy(138 kb)