Code of Meeting Practice - August 2026

August 2026 - Code of Meeting Practice Adopted

At its Meeting on Monday 24 August 2026, City of Parramatta Council adopted the updated Code of Meeting Practice 2026, which is now in effect. The Code was updated following public exhibition and incorporates recent legislative changes, including formalising the process for Councillor questions on matters published in Council's Business Papers.

Thank you to everyone that had their say.

Project background

The City of Parramatta draft Code of Meeting Practice (June 2026) is based on the Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Councils in NSW. The Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Councils in NSW (the Model Code) is prescribed under Section 360 of the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act) and the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 (the Regulations).

Why was the Code of Meeting Practice exhibited again in 2026?

In late 2025 and early 2026, Council consulted the community on a draft Code of Meeting Practice - we appreciate the feedback received during that process. In early 2026, there were changes at a State level affecting the Model Code of Meeting Practice, which all Councils are required to follow. As a result, Council had to revert to its previous, compliant Code, adopted in July 2025, to ensure it continues to meet legislative requirements.

This created an opportunity to revisit this Code, and propose amendments that incorporate:

• Feedback provided by the community and Councillors during the recent consultation, and
• A number of practical, non-mandatory improvements to how meetings are run.

This meant that Council was required to place a draft Code of Meeting Practice on exhibition sooner than usual. The mid-2026 public exhibition ensured that:

• The proposed Code is fully compliant with legislation, and
• The community has the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the updated version before it is adopted.

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