Committees

Council Committees discuss and put forward recommendations about their areas of responsibility to Council. Council and its committee meetings are reserved for councillors to discuss and make decisions on matters before them. While members of the public can attend these meetings, they cannot address the committee or Council. To speak about an issue before Council or one if its committees, you can attend a public forum.

You can find out more about the Committees at the links below.

Committees meet on the Monday before the next scheduled Council meeting to discuss and prepare their recommendations.

Committees start at 3pm and run in the following order:

1.          Corporate, Finance, Properties and Tenders Committee

2.          Environment and Climate Change Committee

3.          Cultural, Creative and Nightlife Committee

4.          Equity and Housing Committee

5.          Community Services and Facilities Committee

6.          Innovation, Business and Economy Committee

7.          Transport, Heritage and Planning Committee

The Committees meet regularly and members of the public are welcome to attend.

Speaking to a Public Forum

To speak about an issue before Council or one if its committees, you can attend a public forum.

A public forum will be held before meetings of Council committees for the purpose of hearing oral submissions from members of the public on items of business to be considered at the meetings of its committees.

Public forums will be held from 2pm for up to one hour, with meetings of committees of the council to commence at 3pm.

Members of the public can address Councillors at public forums. Find out how to ensure your voice is heard by our Councillors.

Committee Policies and Procedures

The structure and functions of Committees are standing policy of Council.

All correspondence to Committees shall be handled through normal Council processes.

All Committees shall be advisory to Council and have no independent role, except where specific authorities are delegated to them by Council.

Matters dealt with in Committee shall be submitted to Council without recommendation only when the Chairperson so determines.

The Chairpersons of Standing Committees shall have a casting vote in the event of an equality of voting.

Code of Meeting Practice

Applies to all Council and committee meetings of which all members are councillors.

Find out how we conduct our meetings

Council

Council generally meets on a 2-weekly cycle on Mondays. Council meetings start at 5pm and are held in the Council Chamber at Sydney Town Hall. Extraordinary meetings are called when needed.

Planning Matters

The Central Sydney Planning Committee involves City of Sydney representatives but is a separate decision-making body to Council.

The Central Sydney Planning Committee determines applications for major developments with an estimated cost of more than $50 million.

Local planning panels are independent committees appointed by councils to determine certain development applications.

The City of Sydney Local Planning Panel was established by Council resolution on 19 February 2018.

Transport Forum

The Local Pedestrian, Cycling, Traffic Calming and Transport Forum (LPCTCTF) involves City of Sydney representatives but has no decision-making powers.

The LPCTCTF considers the needs of people who walk, cycle and drive in the City of Sydney, and provides advice, technical review, and coordination of transport-related works and events. It does not vote, issue approvals, or make decisions.