New Code of Meeting Practice for local councils

A NEW Model Code of Meeting Practice for local councils has been released and will come into effect in local councils from 1 January 2026.

All councils will need to adopt a code of meeting practice that contains the mandatory provisions of the updated Model Meeting Code by 31 December 2025.

Key changes to the Model Code of Meeting Practice include:

● Preventing councils from holding private councillor briefing sessions to discuss matters that should be considered in the public domain at committee and council meetings (unless they are confidential);

● Encouraging councils to hold public forums preferably before committee meetings, or if they choose council meetings, to enable community engagement in local matters;

● 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;

● Requiring council and committee meetings to be live streamed to give the community and media access to council decision making, and to require those videos to be public for at least the rest of the council term, or 12 months in the case of a meeting in an election year.

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said, “These changes should ensure that, in a council chamber or committee meeting, mechanisms are in place to prevent the derailing of meetings and overshadow the important work of local government.

“Under the new code, mayors should be given the power to take immediate action against disorderly councillors.

“This should lessen the need for councils to resort to the broken code of conduct process and instead address misbehaviour immediately in the council chamber.

“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.

“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.”

The changes to the Meeting Code are part of a broader suite of reforms by the State Government.

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.

Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President Mayor Phyllis Miller said the sector supported moves to improve probity and process in all spheres of government.

“We acknowledge the intent of the NSW Local Government Minister in his aim to seek to raise the level of respect for councils both in the community and in the chamber,” Mayor Miller said.

“We’ve had the opportunity, along with councils, to provide feedback on the drafting of the model code and are now working through the details of the Minister’s new code to understand its application in the sector,” she said.

LGNSW last year responded to the Office of Local Government’s (OLG) discussion paper with a submission following extensive consultation with member councils, county councils and joint organisations.

While acknowledging the new code, Mayor Miller said LGNSW remained disappointed with the Minister’s decision to prohibit briefing sessions for elected council representatives.

“Councillors are elected to make informed decisions on behalf of their communities,” she said.

“Briefing sessions are not decision-making forums – they simply ensure councillors are properly equipped with the background and technical information they need before a matter comes to the public chamber.

“These briefings lead to better informed representatives and, ultimately, better decision-making outcomes for communities, but decisions are – and always will be – made transparently in council meetings, in full view of the public.”