About Council Meetings

The Local Government Act 1993 (Act) determines the general rules of council meetings. It specifies the role of the Mayor, Councillors and General Manager and includes requirements such as;

• the public access to meetings 
• the number of meetings that must be held during the year
• the minimum number of councillors that must be present to hold a meeting (quorum).

Council has also adopted a Code of Meeting Practice. The code determines the rules that are specific to Lachlan Shire Council meetings. It includes procedures for the general conduct of speeches and matters such as motions or amendments. The code complies with the Local Government (General) Regulations 2021.

Ordinary meetings

Council meetings are open to the public and are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month. There may be additional meetings from time to time, and dates may change during weeks with public holidays. Resolutions on any matter may be made at ordinary meetings.

Extraordinary meetings

Occasionally Council holds extraordinary meetings. These are Council meetings held outside the normal meeting cycle, typically to consider matters of an urgent nature.

Councillors (or members of a Council Committee) must disclose a conflict of interest when attending a meeting that concerns a matter in which they have a pecuniary interest.

The Councillor (or Council Committee member) must not be present at, or in sight of, the meeting of the Council or Committee;

• at any time during which the matter is being considered or discussed by the elected Council or Committee
• at any time during which the elected Council or Committee is voting on any question in relation to the matter.

Councillors (or Council Committee members) are also required to disclose non-pecuniary conflicts of interest.