Council meetings

The Council is the decision-making body on all policy matters.  Matters for consideration by the Council are usually directed through Council's Standing Committee - the Committee of the Council - which comprises all Councillors.  This Committee has been structured to use portfolios to streamline Council business.  Each Councillor is the spokesperson of a portfolio in which they have specific areas of responsibility.  Details of portfolios can be found under 'Councillors'.

All meetings of Council and its Committee are open to the public. However, the Council or the Committee may consider it necessary to close the meeting to the public to discuss any of the following matters:

• the appointment, dismissal or discipline of employees
• industrial matters affecting employees
• council's budget
• rating concessions
• contracts proposed to be made by council
• starting or defending legal proceedings involving council
• an action to be taken by the council under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, including deciding applications made to it under that Act
• other business for which a public discussion would be likely to prejudice the interests of council or someone else, or enable a person to gain a financial advantage.

When a matter of this nature is to be discussed, the resolution to close the meeting will specify the nature of the matter to be considered when the meeting is closed.

Details of forthcoming meetings and any changes to meetings, the venue or times are published in Council's news column in local newspapers.