Senior NSW local government staff and councillors will be subject to random checks to ensure they’re complying with requirements to declare any conflicts of interest.

Local government minister Wendy Tuckerman on Thursday put the state’s 128 councils on notice that teams of state government investigators will be reviewing written returns of interest, a requirement under the Model Code of Conduct, from September 30.

The requirement applies to councillors, general managers, senior staff and anyone who exercises functions that carry a risk of a conflict of interest.

Returns of interest must be submitted within three months of election or becoming a ‘designated person’, and within three months of the start of each financial year.

 “Councillors and council staff, including general managers and administrators, are required to declare their interests, including any property they own or interests they have in companies, and whether they are a property developer or associate of a property developer,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

“Checks will be conducted randomly after 30 September so councillors and council staff have more than two months to ensure all the information they’ve provided in their return is accurate and complete.”

She said the checks would ensure that council staff and elected officials were being honest and transparent about any interests they might have. 

Information about disclosure requirements can be found here.