About the Model Code of Meeting Practice:
- NSW Government introduced an updated Model Code of Meeting Practice that all councils must adopt by 31 December 2025, with full effect from 1 January 2026. Tenterfield Shire Council adopted their 2025 Model Code of Meeting Practice on 17 December 2025.
- The model code sets rules for how council and committee meetings are conducted, including transparency, speaking rights, meeting procedures, and public access.
- A copy of Council’s 2025 Model Code of Meeting Practice can be found on Councils website (linked: https://www.tenterfield.nsw.gov.au/your-council/about-council/our-mission-vision-values/code-of-meeting-practice)
The Code aims is to:
- Boost transparency and confidence in local government decision-making
- Promote orderly, open meetings where decisions are made in full view of the community
- Ensure community interests remain central to how councils operate, with key discussion occurring in public rather than behind closed doors
- Improve accountability by requiring councillors to clearly record and explain their reasons when decisions depart from expert planning advice
Following recent updates to the NSW Model Code of Meeting Practice, Tenterfield Shire Council has introduced a new process that allows Councillors to request factual information from Council staff prior to a Council meeting.
Under
the Code, Councillors may request information from the General Manager about matters that will be considered at a Council meeting. Importantly, this information must also be made available to the public and cannot involve discussion outside the formal Council meeting.
To support transparency and ensure the community has access to the same information as Councillors, Council has introduced a structured process for submitting and publishing these requests.
Councillors will submit their requests by
9.00am on the Tuesday prior to the scheduled Council meeting (or two business days before meetings held on another day). Council staff will prepare written responses which will be published on Council’s website as a
Supplementary Report by
4.00pm on the same day.
The Supplementary Report will be available online prior to the meeting and printed copies will also be available for members of the public attending the meeting.
This process ensures:
- information is shared transparently with the community
- staff have sufficient time to prepare accurate responses
- debate and decision-making continues to occur during the formal Council meeting.
Council will trial the process for three to six months and make any improvements if required.
In addition, on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, Council adopted a
Policy and Guidelines for Informal Workshops further ensuring transparent and consistent processes are in place. The policy has been established to assist the Leadership Executive Team and interested Councillors in seeking views on matters that are strategic, substantial and complex, or contentious.
Council meetings remain open to the public and residents are encouraged to attend or view meeting materials on Council’s website.
