business - 2026-04-21

Northern Beaches Council adopts new meeting rules and keeps public forums ahead of meetings

Source: www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au

Northern Beaches Council has adopted changes to the way council meetings are held, following mandatory rule updates introduced by the NSW Government under a new Model Code of Meeting Practice.

Northern Beaches Council has adopted changes to the way council meetings are held, following mandatory rule updates introduced by the NSW Government under a new Model Code of Meeting Practice. Council said the updated rules are designed to ensure meetings are focused on quality decision making and conducted in a democratic, dignified and orderly way. One of the changes is that public forums can no longer be held during council meetings. Council says residents will still be able to speak on agenda items through a public forum held one week prior to the council meeting. Business papers will be published two weeks before the meeting to give the community extra time to review what will be considered. The public forum will be followed by a community engagement forum, which council says will allow councillors to hear oral submissions from the community on other matters. Mayor Sue Heins said council is committed to ensuring the community continues to have a voice in local decision-making, alongside other options such as contacting councillors, engaging in public consultation opportunities and responding to projects during the public exhibition process. More information is available on...