2019-08-06 S&O Agenda - Item 6 - Attachment 2 - Draft New Standing Orders for Noosa Council

21.10 In the event the majority of Councillors inform of a personal interest in a matter:
      a)    the Local Government must resolve to delegate the consideration and decision on the
            matter, pursuant to section 257 of the Local Government Act, or
      b)    if the matter cannot be delegated under the section 257 of the Local Government Act,
            the Local Government should seek Ministerial approval for the Councillors to be able to
            consider and vote on the matter, subject to any conditions the Minister for Local
            Government may impose.
21.11 Where a Councillor informs a meeting of a personal interest in a matter, the Chairperson must
     ensure the minutes of the meeting (to be posted on the Council’s website) record:
      a)    The name of the Councillor who has declared the conflict of interest;
      b)    The nature of the personal interest, as described by the Councillor;
      c)    The decisions made under 21.3 and 21.5;
      d)    Whether the Councillor participated in the meeting under an approval by the Minister;
      e)    If the Councillor voted on the matter, how they voted;
      f)    How the majority of Councillors voted on the matter.



22. Closed Meetings
22.1 Local Government and Standing Committees may resolve that a meeting be closed to the
     public if its Councillors or members consider it necessary to discuss any of the following
     matters:
      a)    Appointment, dismissal or discipline of employees;
      b)    Industrial matters affecting employees;
      c)    Local Government’s budget;
      d)    Rating concessions or contracts proposed to be made by the Local Government or
            starting or defending legal proceedings involving the Local Government;
      e)    Any action to be taken by the Local Government under the Planning Act 2016 (PA),
            including applications made to it under the PA;
      f)    Business for which a public discussion would be likely to prejudice the interests of the
            Local Government or someone else or enable a person to gain a financial advantage.
22.2 A Local Government or Standing Committee must not make a resolution (other than
     procedural) in a closed session meeting.
22.3 If a closed session includes attendance by teleconference, the Councillor/s attending by
     teleconference must maintain confidentiality by ensuring no other person can hear their
     conversation.
22.4 To take an issue into a closed session, the Local Government must first pass a resolution to
     do so in accordance with Section 27.10.
22.5 In the interests of accountability and transparency, the Local Government must specify the
     nature of the matter to be discussed and the reasoning of the Councillors for going into closed
     session.
22.6 If the matter is known in advance, the agenda should clearly identify that the matter will be
     considered in closed session and name the topic to be discussed and a brief explanation of
     why it is deemed necessary to take the issue into closed session.
22.7 The minutes of a Local Government must detail the matter discussed and reasoning for
     discussing the matter in closed session. The Local Government must also ensure that it
     complies with the statutory obligations associated with recording of passed resolutions.




Standing Orders for Council Meetings                                                        Page 11