Draft Code of Meeting Practice & Draft Public Forum Policy
The Draft Code of Meeting Practice (CoMP) aims to ensure that Council meetings support effective decision-making and enhance transparency and accountability to the community. It sets out the processes and rules for how all Council meetings are conducted.
On 29 August 2025, the Office of Local Government (OLG) released a new Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Councils in NSW following a consultation process held in late 2024.
The Model Code includes both mandatory and non-mandatory provisions. The non-mandatory provisions address areas of meeting practice that are common across most Councils but may require variation to suit local circumstances. These provisions also serve as a benchmark for best practice, as identified by the OLG.
The Draft CoMP incorporates all of the mandatory provisions of the Model Code and includes selected non-mandatory provisions, along with supplementary provisions tailored to Council’s needs.
With the release of the new Model Code, the OLG has provided Councils with the flexibility to establish their own rules for the conduct of Public Forums. Public Forums provide an opportunity for registered community members to make oral submissions on items of business to be considered at Council meetings. In response, a Draft Public Forum Policy has been developed to provide clear guidance on how Public Forums will be conducted.
Key changes to the Model Code of Meeting Practice are outlined in the Office of Local Government’s documents below
Viewing the Documents & Providing Feedback
The Draft Code of Meeting Practice & Draft Public Forum Policy are on public exhibition from Friday 17 October until Friday 14 November 2025 (28 days). Submissions will be accepted from Friday 17 October until Friday 28 November 2025 (42 days).
The draft documents and additional information may be viewed:
- In the electronic Document Library on this page
- At Council’s Customer Service Counter, Civic Centre, 68 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale NSW 2577, between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday
- Councils Libraries
Feedback can be provided on the Draft Code of Meeting Practice & Draft Public Forum Policy through:
- Completing an Online Submission Form (below)
- Emailing it directly to mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au
- Hand writing your submission and delivering it to Council's Civic Centre located at 68 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale NSW 2577
- Posting your submission to Wingecarribee Shire Council, PO Box 141, Moss Vale NSW 2577
Only written submissions will be considered and these must be received by Council before 4.30pm Friday 28 November 2025. Please note that any submissions received may be included in the final report to Council.
Your feedback is a way for you to share your thoughts and ideas on a particular issue or project. The goal is to make sure your voice and the community’s voices are heard and considered. It helps provide valuable insights, identify potential issues and suggest improvements. This way, decisions can be more inclusive, transparent and effective, reflecting what you and the community really needs and wants.
Responses to engagement projects are compiled and considered. When projects are reported to Council to make a decision a summary of community feedback will be included. Updates on projects will be included in these pages and elsewhere on Council's website.
Sometimes it takes some months to provide feedback to the community and to make a decision as further investigation is often needed. We are listening and we do take your suggestions on board!
