253   Requirements before policy concerning expenses and facilities can be adopted or amended

(1)  A council must give public notice of its intention to adopt or amend a policy for the payment of expenses or provision of facilities allowing at least 28 days for the making of public submissions.

(2)  Before adopting or amending the policy, the council must consider any submissions made within the time allowed for submissions and make any appropriate changes to the draft policy or amendment.

(3)  Despite subsections (1) and (2), a council need not give public notice of a proposed amendment to its policy for the payment of expenses or provision of facilities if the council is of the opinion that the proposed amendment is not substantial.

(4)  Within 28 days after adopting a policy or making an amendment to a policy for which public notice is required to be given under this section, a council is to forward to the Director-General:

(a)  a copy of the policy or amendment together with details of all submissions received in accordance with subsection (1), and

(b)  a statement setting out, for each submission, the council’s response to the submission and the reasons for the council’s response, and

(c)  a copy of the notice given under subsection (1).

(5)  A council must comply with this section when proposing to adopt a policy each year in accordance with section 252 (1) even if the council proposes to adopt a policy that is the same as its existing policy.