All Councils are required to have a Code of Meeting Practice. This Code outlines how meetings are to run and guidelines for the behaviour of Councillors and members of the public at meetings.
A well run meeting contributes to good decision making and makes it easier for the community to understand what is being decided and why.
Meetings must be run fairly and in a way that improves decision making and does not provide personal or political advantage.
In 2009 the Division of Local Government (DLG) released a Meetings Practice Note to help Councils run their meetings and answer a number of frequently asked questions. This information has been considered in reviewing Wollongong’s Code of Meeting Practice.
The revised Code of Meeting Practice includes more information to help Councillors understand their obligations in making decisions.
Major changes and additions to the current Code of Meeting Practice include:
- A proposal to start the Council meeting at 6pm
- A proposal to adjourn meetings at 10pm if all business has not been finalised and reconvened at a later time
- The addition of meeting etiquette requirements for Councillors and other persons speaking at a Council meeting
- Changes to the Order of Business – the addition of Declarations of Conflict of Interest and Call of the Agenda
- The inclusion of extensive comments on Conflicts of Interest together with examples
- A requirement for Councillors to provide written Disclosure of Interest to the General Manager by 12noon on the day of the meeting, where possible
- Timeframes and format for lodgement of Notices of Motion
- Procedures for dealing with Order/Disorder at meetings
- Comments on potential defamatory statements
- The inclusion of comments on the adjournment of meetings
- The recording of individual Councillor voting for all Agenda items
- The introduction of Digital Audio Recording of meetings.
Feedback on the amended draft Code of Meeting Practice will be accepted until 5pm Thursday, 7 July 2011.
Any person wishing to make a submission may do so by writing to the General Manager, Wollongong City Council, Locked Bag 8821, Wollongong DC NSW 2500 or by email at council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au. For further information call Council’s Customer Service Centre on 4227 7111.
For a copy of the amended Code of Meeting Practice visit Council's Administration Building, 41 Burelli Street, Wollongong or download a copy below.
Draft Code of Meeting Practice.pdf