Make submission about Council meeting code
There is a new Model Code of Meeting Practice being exhibited by the Minister for comments.
This Code, when adopted, will govern the operation of Council meetings.
There is a long list of goals that, it is said, the new Code is intended to meet, although the direct connection between most of these goals and the proposed changes to the Code aren't easy to trace.
Indeed, the main feature of the proposed changes seems to be that there will be no mandatory requirement of Public Forums before a Council meeting, although there is a draft provision that Council can adopt, if it so wishes.
Given the trend in recent Council resolutions related to public participation in decisions, I doubt that most ratepayers would be comfortable relying on the Council's goodwill for permission to speak on matters of community importance, so it might be considered useful to address the Minister with an objection to this proposal.
There should be some mandatory measure for Public Forums, although some details of the means of participation might be left to Council's discretion.
It should be made clear to the Minister that this is a general community view.
There is an online objection form that can be filled in and submitted, and I suggest that anybody concerned about the transparency of Council deliberations on community issues make use of it.
SOURCE:
Email, 20 Jan 2025
Bruce Hyland, Woy Woy.