Informal Sessions

Council Informal sessions, where appropriate, provide a valuable opportunity to enhance the decision-making processes by providing opportunities for council members to become better informed on issues and seek further clarification. These sessions can include planning and training information.

Informal sessions are not used to obtain or effectively obtain a decision on a matter outside of formal council or committee meetings (s90A(2) Local Government Act).

Council Informal sessions are required to be open to the public when a matter is or is intended to be on the agenda for a formal meeting of the council to be discussed (s90A(3) Local Government Act).

Sessions to consider confidential information will be closed to the public to allow attendees to receive, discuss or consider any information or matter considered confidential under s.90(3) Local Government Act. This decision can be made by the council or the CEO. A person who remains in the session knowing it is a closed session (an order has been made) will be guilty of an offence and liable to a penalty (excepting council members or persons permitted to be in the room).