Updated meeting rules adopted

Scenic Rim Regional Council has revised its Standing Orders for meetings, prompted by amendments to Queensland Government regulations.

Standing orders reflect well established local government legislation allowing councils to set the rules for the efficient and orderly running of their meetings.

The Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning periodically reviews standing orders to ensure councils have the best possible guidelines for meeting procedures. 

Amendments to the Local Government Regulation 2012, particularly in relation to the conduct of councils' Ordinary Meetings and the release of the department's revised best practice standing orders, prompted the timely review of Scenic Rim Regional Council's Standing Orders.

At Tuesday's Ordinary Meeting, in a majority vote, Councillors adopted a revised version of Standing Orders consistent with most of what is prescribed in the department's best practice standing orders.

Chief Executive Officer Jon Gibbons said that, in general there were only a few clauses that were slightly tailored to suit the circumstances and traditions of the Scenic Rim Regional Council.

"The revised Standing Orders incorporating the variations adopted yesterday were extensively workshopped by Councillors," he said.

"While it's not contained in the department's best practice for Standing Orders, it's common practice at Scenic Rim Regional Council for Councillors to discuss the content of reports prior to proposing any motion or commencing formal debate.

"Council seeks to continue this practice because it allows Councillors to seek further clarification on matters contained in the report, which in turn supports better informed decision making."

Mr Gibbons said the Mayoral Minute is unique to the Scenic Rim and has been retained in the Standing Orders giving the Mayor the ability to address the meeting for urgent or significant matters requiring Council's immediate attention.

"There are rare and special circumstances that require the Mayor to use this provision within the standing orders," he said.

"For example, recently they've been used to respond to the changing health directives in relation to COVID-19, which can't be anticipated nor included in a meeting agenda released five days beforehand.

"The overall aim of Standing Orders is to clarify the regulatory environment for Councillors so that Ordinary Meetings run smoothly."

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said the revised Standing Orders also reflected Council's current meeting structure, which from 2019, merged the content of Committee Meetings into the business of the twice monthly Ordinary Meetings.

"The types of discussions previously conducted in the Committee meetings are similar to those that are now being undertaken in Council's Ordinary Meetings," he said.

"These discussions still remain open to the public, albeit via audio stream for the moment, due to the current COVID-19 arrangements.

"Consistent with the department's best practice Standing Orders for local government, this maintains Councillors' abilities to bring forward matters on behalf of their constituents, and to raise urgent matters of concern.

"Compared to the previous version, nothing in these revised Standing Orders limits a Councillor's ability to raise matters."

Cr Christensen said Scenic Rim Regional Council continues to hold its confidential Councillor and Executive Workshops, which had always been in place, even when Committee meetings were held.

"These workshops clarify the adequacy of information being presented to Councillors in the public forum of the Ordinary Meetings," he said.

"The community can be confident that procedures such as Standing Orders support good governance, the integrity of Councillors and the behaviour community members expect from Councillors."