Each Council in NSW has a Code of Meeting Practice which sets out the rules for Ordinary Meetings of Council and Committee Meetings of Council, to ensure these meetings are open, accessible, orderly, effective and efficient.

To meet new requirements from the Office of Local Government, we have updated our Code of Meeting Practice and we're exhibiting the draft document for public feedback. We invite you to share your feedback by Thursday 30 October 2025.

View the draft Code of Meeting Practice.

Overview

Council's current Code of Meeting Practice was adopted in 2024, however earlier this year the Office of Local Government (OLG) released a new Model Meeting Code for local councils to use as a foundation for their Code of Meeting Practice, advising that a significant proportion of the new Model Meeting Code is mandatory. The OLG advised that all councils must have a Code of Meeting Practice which meets the new requirements by 31 December 2025.

The Code will apply to Ordinary Meetings of Council and Committee Meetings of Council.

Key changes in our draft Code of Meeting Practice include:

  • Councillor's attendance at Council Meetings by audio-visual link: the option to attend meetings by audio-visual link has been restricted to where Councillors are prevented from attending a meeting in person because of ill-health or other medical reasons or because of unforeseen caring responsibilities (Clause 5.15).
  • Absences from Council Meetings: where Councillors are unable to attend one or more Council or Committee meetings, the new provisions encourage Councillors to submit an apology for the meeting/s and Council must determine by resolution whether to grant the Councillor a leave of absence for the meeting. (Cl 5.3 - 5.6)
  • Mayoral Minutes: A Mayoral Minute may be put to a Meeting without notice (previously a notice period was required) on any matter or topic that the Mayor determines should be considered at the meeting (Cl 9.7 - 9.9)
  • Rules of Debate have been simplified and the rules governing the foreshadowing of motions and amendments have been removed. Council will no longer have the option of reducing the duration of speeches to less than 5 minutes. However, Council can continue to have other options to expedite business at Meetings, such as moving that a motion be put where the necessary conditions have been satisfied and to resolve to deal with items by exception.
  • Dealing with Disorder: Council is required to decide for each Council term, whether to authorise the person presiding at a meeting to exercise a power of expulsion (Cl 15.5 - 15.16). The definition of acts of disorder by Councillors have changed. (Clause 15.10) Members of the public can be expelled from meetings for engaging in disorderly conduct, as contained under clause 15.19, and an offence under section 660 carries a maximum fine of $2,100.
  • Petitions: are not included as Mandatory or Non-Mandatory items of business.
  • Prohibition on Pre-Meeting Briefings: prohibits briefing sessions being held to brief Councillors on business listed on the agenda for Council and Committee Meetings (Cl 3.32 of the new Code).
  • Public Forums: public forum provisions are now mandatory, but Council can determine whether to hold public forums before a Council or Committee meeting (Cl 4.1 - 4.2). The rules can be found in the draft Code as 'Woollahra Practice Note' under the relevant clauses which allows three minutes for members of the public to address Council. Public Forums will run before a Meeting from 6.00pm to 6.30pm only. Public Forums must also be live streamed.


Have your say

We want to hear from our local community. We invite you to share your ideas and feedback via one of the following methods:

  • Online: Please complete the survey form below.
  • Email: we also accept feedback via email direct to records@woollahra.nsw.gov.au quoting reference: Draft Code of Meeting Practice
  • Mail: Letter addressed to the General Manager at Woollahra Council, PO Box 61, Double Bay NSW 1360

Feedback closes 11.59pm on Thursday 30 October 2025.