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MadeleineCoordinator Council Liaison
Lake Macquarie City Council
Code of Meeting Practice
About the project
Our Code of Meeting Practice supports effective meetings of Council and its Committees.
The Code is underpinned by the following principles:
Transparent: Decisions are made in a way that is open and accountable
Informed: Decisions are made based on relevant, quality information
Inclusive: Decisions respect the diverse needs and interests of the local community
Principled: Decisions are informed by the principles prescribed under Chapter 3 of the Local Government Act 1993
Trusted: The community has confidence that Councillors and staff act ethically and make decisions in the interests of the whole community
Effective: Meetings are well organised, effectively run and skilfully chaired
Orderly: Councillors, staff and meeting attendees behave in a way that contributes to the orderly conduct of the meeting
Respectful: Councillors, staff and meeting attendees treat each other with respect
The latest version of Council's Code of Meeting Practice was adopted on 8 December 2025 following public exhibition. You can view a summary of changes below.
Summary of changes
Extraordinary meetings
The Mayor may now call an Extraordinary Meeting without the need to obtain the signature of two Councillors.
Dealing with urgent business at meetings
Urgent business can be considered without notice. The resolution must include reasons explaining why the matter is urgent and needs a decision before the next Ordinary Council meeting.
Attendance at meeting by audio-visual link
The provisions governing attendance by Councillors at meetings by audio-visual link have been made mandatory and the option to attend meetings by audio-visual link has been restricted to where Councillors are prevented from attending a meeting in person because of ill-health or other medical reasons or because of unforeseen caring responsibilities.
Absences from Council meetings
The key change is that Councillors must now formally request leave and council's must resolve whether to grant it. If the leave is refused, Council must record the reason.
Modes of address
Where physically able to, Councillors and staff are encouraged to stand when the Mayor enters the Chamber and when addressing the meeting.
Making information considered at closed meetings public
CEO must publish business papers for items of business considered during meetings that have been closed to public on the Council’s website as soon as practicable after the information contained in the business papers ceases to be confidential.
Expulsion from meetings
On the adoption of the Code and at the commencement of each Council term, the Council must determine whether to authorise the person presiding at a meeting to exercise a power of expulsion.
It is recommended that Clause 15.16 of the Model Code apply in Council’s updated Model Code of Meeting Practice to remain consistent with the current Code of Meeting Practice. This will authorise the chairperson to excel persons other than Councillors from meetings of the Council or Committees of the Council.
Pre-meeting briefings
Briefings are no longer permitted under the Model Code on business listed on the agenda for meetings of the Council or Committees of the Council.
Information sessions required on business listed on the agenda will be open to the public, livestreamed and recordings will be published on Council’s website.
Rules of debate / foreshadowed motions
With the changes to amendments and foreshadowed amendments being removed, Councillors can still advise the Council of a further amendment they wish to move.
Rescinding or altering Council decisions
Clause 17.12, 17.13 and 17.14 has been omitted as Council has chosen not to adopt the non-mandatory provisions relating to rescissions at the same meeting.
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