It must feel like having meetings about meetings for the councillors of the Southern Downs Regional Council lately.
At the council’s 15 May meeting, a recommendation that the council adopt an amended and updated council meeting policy lapsed despite a recent information session already having been held on the subject.
The proposed policy was based on best practice example standing orders for local government and standing committee meetings as outlined by the State Government.
Changes mooted included clarification about when the use of en bloc voting was allowed, rules about personal statements by councillors and the scheduling of prayers and public addresses outside the official meeting times.
The possible removal of the general business section did not sit well with long-term councillor Ross Bartley, who said that sometimes there were issues that needed to be raised in general business.
“It’s a chance to bring up something important,” he said.
The proposal for adopting the council meetings policy lapsed and Cr Bartley’s motion, that the council defer the matter until after a council information session and subsequent report on the subject, was carried.
