The Council meeting of February 28th 2023 saw councillors unanimously vote that the amended Draft Code of Meeting Practice be placed on public exhibition for a period of not less than 42 days from 1 March 2023 to 11 April 2023.
By way of public exhibition the community will be informed about the proposed changes to meeting frequency, Public Access, Public Forum and other minor amendments and submissions invited via Council’s communication platforms.
Following the exhibition period a further report be presented to Council to consider submissions, adoption of the amended draft Code of Meeting Practice and a proposed meeting schedule.
The purpose of the report to Council was to review the Code of Meeting Practice to amend the schedule of Council meetings, Public Forum and Access sessions.
Warwick Winn, General Manager offered that the move was 'To enable more effective and efficient decision-making for Councillors, and to provide certainty for community members’ participating in meetings, it is proposed that Council move to monthly Ordinary Council meetings and Public Access and Forum sessions'.
It is also proposed that Council amend the order of business on Council Meeting Agendas to add Public Forum to the order of business for Ordinary Council meetings as outlined in Clause 7.1 of the Code. Public Access and Public Forum sessions would be reduced to once per month rather than twice.
It is proposed that Public Forum form part of the Council Meeting, held at the start prior to Council reports, and will be recorded in the meetings’ minutes. Public Forum will be required to be added to the order of business for Ordinary Council meetings as outlined in Clause 7.1 of the Code.
It is also proposed to remove Delegate Reports from the order of business for Ordinary Council meetings. Delegate reports are provided by Councillors who represent Council at various conferences. These reports will be shared among Councillors and will be available to members of the public at the Moruya customer service centre.
Before adopting any changes to Council’s Code of Meeting Practice, under section 361 of the Local Government Act 1993, Council is required to exhibit the Code of Meeting Practice for a period of not less than 42 days. If the proposed changes are adopted, a new schedule of Ordinary Council Meeting dates which includes meeting at least 10 times each year, each time in a different month (section 365 of the Local Government Act 1993) will need to be adopted.
