It is resolved that:
(A) Council note the submissions received from the community on the draft Code of Meeting Practice as outlined in the engagement report shown at Attachment A to the subject report and at Attachment A to the subject Information Relevant To memorandum (for submissions received between 27 November 2025 to 10 December 2025);
(B) Council adopt the revised City of Sydney Code of Meeting Practice as shown at Attachment B to the subject report, subject to any amendment of section 422 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 to defer the time of commencement of the new Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Councils;
(C) Council endorse that if section 422 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 is amended to defer the mandating of the new Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Council, Council’s current Code of Meeting Practice remain in force until further resolution of Council;
(D) Council fix the order of business of meetings of council as the following:
(i) opening of the meeting;
(ii) acknowledgement of country;
(iii) prayer at the discretion of the Chair;
(iv) apologies and applications for a leave of absence by councillors;
(v) confirmation of minutes;
(vi) statement of ethical obligations and disclosures of interest;
(vii) minutes by the Lord Mayor;
(viii) memoranda by the Chief Executive Officer;
(ix) matters for tabling;
(x) reports of committees;
(xi) reports to council;
(xii) questions on notice;
(xiii) supplementary answers to previous questions;
(xiv) notices of motion; and
(xv) conclusion of the meeting;
(E) authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer to make amendments to the Code of Meeting Practice in order to correct any minor drafting errors and finalise design, artwork and accessible formats for publication;
(F) Council endorse the City of Sydney Public Forum Guidelines as shown at Attachment C to the subject report subject to the following amendment:
Guidelines for City of Sydney Public Forums
Public forums will be held from 2pm for up to one hour, with meetings of committees of the council to commence at 3pm.
(G) Council note that the Public Forum Guidelines can be amended from time to time by Council;
(H) Council endorse and adopt the revised Functions, Delegations, Policies and Procedures of Council Committees, as shown at Attachment B to the subject Information Relevant To memorandum;
(I) Council note that public notification and communications will be undertaken in early 2026 (unless deferred) to advise members of the public of the Public Forum Guidelines and how they can address Council going forward; and
(J)
if however,
section 422 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 is amended to
defer the mandating of the new Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local
Councils:
(i)
meetings of
the Committees of Council will commence at 2pm; and
(ii)
public forums
will not be held prior to meetings of the Committees of Council, as speakers
will be heard during committees.
The substantive motion was carried on the following show of hands –
Ayes (9) The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Arkins, Ellsmore, Gannon, Kok, Maxwell, Miller, Thompson and Worling
Noes (1) Councillor Weldon*.
Carried.
*Note – Councillor Weldon abstained from voting on this matter. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 10.4 of the Code of Meeting Practice, Councillor Weldon is taken to have voted against the matter.
S051923