Decision details

Memorandum by the Chief Executive Officer

To Council:

On 17 February 2020, Council endorsed an amended schedule of meetings and briefings for 2020.

In March 2020, the Minister for Local Government announced that the September 2020 local government elections would be postponed to address the risks posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Local Government Act 1993 (the Act) has been amended to confer on the Minister, a time-limited power to postpone council elections.

The official Order under the Local Government Act 1993 deferring the local government election from 12 September 2020 for twelve months was made on 12 June 2020. The NSW Government has announced that the local government elections will be held on 4 September 2021.

Given this, an amendment to the August meeting cycle is proposed as the pre-election caretaker period is no longer applicable in 2020, along with a proposed addition of a meeting cycle in September.

10 August                                            Briefings (*currently – 3 August)

17 August                                            Committees (*currently – 10 August)

24 August                                            Council (*currently – 17 August)

7 September                                       Briefings

14 September                                     Committees

21 September                                     Council

Local Government NSW (LGNSW) has also advised that the annual LGNSW Conference to be hosted by Cessnock Council and being held in the Hunter Valley initially scheduled for 11 to 13 October 2020 has been moved to 22 to 24 November 2020.

Given this, amendments to the October / November meeting cycles are also proposed.

12 October                                          Briefings

19 October                                          Committees (*no change)

26 October                                          Council (*no change)

2 November                                        Briefings (*currently – 9 November)

9 November                                        Committees (*currently – 16 November)

16 November                                      Council (*currently – 23 November)

22 to 24 November                 LGNSW Conference

Section 365 of the Local Government Act 1993 states that "the council is required to meet at least 10 times each year, each time in a different month", with "year" meaning the period from 1 July to the following 30 June (the financial year). The amended schedule ensures compliance with the provisions of section 365.

The City's website will be updated with the amended meeting dates if endorsed by Council.

Recommendation

It is resolved that Council adopt the amended schedule of meetings and briefings for 2020, as shown at Attachment A to the subject memorandum.

 

 

MONICA BARONE

Chief Executive Officer

Attachments

Amended Schedule of Meetings and Briefings for 2020

 

Moved by the Chair (The Lord Mayor), seconded by Councillor Scully –

It is resolved that Council adopt the amended schedule of meetings and briefings for 2020, as shown at Attachment A to the subject memorandum.

Carried unanimously.

S063444

 

 

AMENDED SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS AND BRIEFINGS FOR 2020
DATE	MEETING
MONDAY 29 JUNE	·         COUNCIL
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS - Monday 6 July to Friday 17 July 2020, inclusive
MONDAY 6 JULY	·         RECESS
MONDAY 13 JULY	·         BRIEFINGS
MONDAY 20 JULY	·         COMMITTEES
MONDAY 27 JULY	·         COUNCIL
MONDAY 3 AUGUST	·         RECESS
MONDAY 10 AUGUST	·         BRIEFINGS
MONDAY 17 AUGUST	·         COMMITTTEES
MONDAY 24 AUGUST	·         COUNCIL
MONDAY 31 AUGUST	·         RECESS
MONDAY 7 SEPTEMBER	·         BRIEFINGS
MONDAY 14 SEPTEMBER	·         COMMITTEES
MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER	·         COUNCIL
MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER	·         RECESS
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS - Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October 2020, inclusive
MONDAY 5 OCTOBER	·         RECESS - (Labour Day Public Holiday)
MONDAY 12 OCTOBER	·         BRIEFINGS
MONDAY 19 OCTOBER	·       COMMITTEES
MONDAY 26 OCTOBER	·         COUNCIL
MONDAY 2 NOVEMBER	·         BRIEFINGS
MONDAY 9 NOVEMBER	·         COMMITTEES
MONDAY 16 NOVEMBER	·         COUNCIL
SUNDAY 22 NOVEMBER	·         LGNSW CONFERENCE
MONDAY 23 NOVEMBER	·         LGNSW CONFERENCE
TUESDAY 24 NOVEMBER	·         LGNSW CONFERENCE
MONDAY 30 NOVEMBER	·         BRIEFINGS
MONDAY 7 DECEMBER	·         COMMITTEES
MONDAY 14 DECEMBER	·         COUNCIL
MONDAY 21 DECEMBER	·        RECESS
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS – Monday 21 December 2020 to Wednesday 27 January 2021, inclusive