Timing of Ordinary Meetings (Clause 3.1)

• A supplementary addition confirms that ordinary meetings are held mainly in Queanbeyan, with some in Bungendore and Braidwood.
• Meetings will commence at 6.30pm, following a Public Forum at 5.30pm, to provide certainty about both timing and location.

Extraordinary Meetings (Clause 3.3)

• The Mayor can call an extraordinary meeting without needing signatures from two Councillors.
• A supplementary addition provides that Notices of Motion by a Councillor are submitted by 9am on the Wednesday before the meeting (previously noon a week before).
• This is necessary to achieve the issuing of the business paper by close of business the same day.
• Where expenditure is proposed, a funding source must be identified.
• If not, the General Manager will provide advice in a staff report.

Giving Notice of Business (Clauses 3.10–3.12)

Agenda and Business Papers (Clause 3.16)

• The General Manager must issue agendas by close of business on the Wednesday before a meeting.
• This will enable 5 business days for reading by Councillors and preparation of questions.
• The previous rules requiring earlier publication for business papers exceeding 1,500 pages have been removed.

Pre-Meeting Briefings (Clauses 3.32–3.34)

• Confidential pre-meeting Councillor briefings are no longer permitted.
• To ensure Councillor requests for information are addressed and made public, a supplementary addition details that, Councillors can submit questions on any matter on the business paper until midnight Sunday before the meeting.
• Responses will be provided by the General Manager, in a Questions with Notice Supplementary Report, that is published on QPRC website the morning of the meeting.

Public Forums (Clauses 4.1–4.7)

• Some guidelines for conducting Public Forums are included as supplementary provisions.
• Public Forums are to be held separately before the meeting, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.
• Members of the public must register by 12 noon on the day of the meeting.
• Each speaker has three minutes, with discretion for the Mayor to grant more time if speaking on multiple items.
• Staff may provide short briefings on selected agenda items, which would include the Operational Plan, Strategic Plans, Financial and QBRS reports, Development Applications or matters which have some complexity or where a number of questions have been received.
• If there is not enough time, the Mayor may choose to receive those staff briefings during the Council Meeting at the relevant agenda item.
  
  

Attendance by Councillors (Clauses 5.18–5.24)

• Councillors may attend by audio-visual link with Council approval, and only if prevented from attending in person due to ill-health, medical reasons, or unforeseen caring responsibilities.
• A new clause notes that Councillors and Staff, where physically able, should stand when the Mayor enters the chamber and when addressing the meeting.
• This may be a challenge with the current equipment utilised for meetings, as they are desk style microphones.

Modes of Address (Clause 7.1)

Rules of Debate and Foreshadowed Motions (Clauses 10.8–10.25)

• The previous provisions for foreshadowed motions have been removed.
• Debate will now proceed through motions and amendments without foreshadowing.
• Amendments must relate to the matter and must not be a direct negative.
• If the motion is lost, this does not prevent a further motion being moved on the same item which is the direct negative or contrary to the original motion; as per Clause 9.2(a).

Planning Decisions (Clauses 11.7–11.8)

• Council cannot make a planning decision without a staff report containing an assessment and recommendation.
• If Council makes a planning decision that is inconsistent with the staff report, reasons for its decision and why it did not adopt the staff recommendation must be recorded.
• The previous requirement for a Notice of Motion to rescind or alter a resolution relating to a Development Application (submitted by 5pm Friday following the meeting) (Clause 17.10) has been removed.
• This is because determinations by Council for the awarding of Contracts and Development Applications are legally binding.

Rescinding or Altering Council Decisions (Clauses 17.3-17.13)

Confidential items of business (Clause 20.20-20.21)

• When the general manager has consulted with any affected persons, as soon as practicable items that were considered in confidential business will be made publicly available when they cease to be confidential.