The State Government on Friday, August 29 released a new Model Code of Meeting Practice for local councils that will come into effect from the start of next year.
Changes include new rules of etiquette that “where physically able to, councillors and staff are encouraged to stand when the mayor enters the chamber and when addressing the meeting”.
The option to attend meetings by audio-visual link has been restricted to where councillors are prevented from attending in person because of ill-health or other medical reasons or because of unforeseen caring responsibilities.
Councils will no longer have the option of reducing the duration of speeches to less than 5 minutes, a move used at Central Coast Council meetings in recent times.
See more changes in the comments section.
Central Coast Council wrote to the Department during the exhibition period of the new proposals, disagreeing with the above three changes.
The new code is meant to:
# ensure disorder is dealt with more effectively, and
# councillors make decisions in full view of the communities they represent.
Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig said all councils in NSW will need to adopt a code of meeting practice by December 31 that contains the new mandatory provisions.
Other changes to the Code include:
# Preventing councils from holding private councillor briefing sessions to discuss matters that should be considered in the public domain unless they are confidential;
# Expanding the powers of the mayor to remove councillors from meetings for acts of disorder
# Expanding the powers of the mayor to remove members of the public if they disrupt council meetings
# Requiring information considered at closed meetings to be made public after it ceases to be confidential;
# Requiring councils to give reasons when making decisions on planning matters that depart from staff recommendations (as recommended by ICAC);
# Promoting neutrality in the role of the general manager.
The changes are part of a broader suite of reforms to improve conduct and accountability and rebuild public trust in councils, Mr Hoenig said.
A new Code of Conduct for councillors is being finalised as well as associated legislative changes, which will see significant changes to how misconduct is dealt with in local government.
Mr Hoenig said the council chamber should be a place of dignity, where debate and decision making takes place in full view of the community.
“Making decisions on behalf of communities is the very role of a councillor, and all councillors should never lose sight of this core responsibility,” Mr Hoenig said.
“Council and committee meetings must be effective, transparent and genuine, and strive for outcomes to benefit the community.
“Under the new code, mayors should be given the power to take immediate action against disorderly councillors.”
Mr Hoenig said the mayoral power should lessen the need for councils to resort to what he called the “broken code of conduct process” and instead address misbehaviour immediately.
“I know not everyone will agree with these changes, but most people in this state would agree action is necessary to improve transparency, increase community confidence and faith in local government,” Mr Hoenig said.
“They will make councillors more visibly in control of their councils to ensure they – as democratically elected representatives of their communities – drive the vision for their local area.”
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