Consultation on council meeting reforms

Overview

What’s this about?

The Office of Local Government (OLG) is inviting feedback from the local government sector and others on proposed amendments to the Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Councils in NSW (Model Meeting Code).

A consultation draft of the new Model Meeting Code and accompanying paper has been published on OLG’s website.

The amendments are part of the government’s agenda to ensure that councillors are visibly in control of their councils, demonstrating to the community that decision making is genuinely local. They aim to simplify the Model Meeting Code, promote the dignity of the council chamber, de-politicise the role of general manager and boost transparency, integrity and public participation in meetings.

The feedback OLG receives will be used to inform the amendments that are ultimately made to the Model Meeting Code.

It is anticipated that the new Model Meeting Code will be prescribed in early 2025.

Have your say

Have your say by 28 February 2025.

There are 3 ways to provide feedback.

Submissions must be clearly labelled 'Model Code of Meeting Practice amendments' and marked to the attention of the Office of Local Government’s Council Governance Team.