Draft Code of Practice - Access to Meetings and Documents 2023

The City of Burnside is seeking your feedback on how it provides public access to meetings and documents.

The Code of Practice Access to Meetings and Documents has been updated and provides guidance to members of the public wanting access to Council meetings and documents.

The draft Code of Practice Access to Meetings and Documents provides for transparency and accountability by local government in its business and everyday operation, and this is achieved by the public having, as a matter of right, access to council and committee meetings and the minutes and documents as a result of these meetings.

Council is seeking your feedback on the draft Code of Practice - Access to Meetings and Documents before it is adopted.

The policy

The City of Burnside has a number of Council policies that inform and guide the manner in which Council business is undertaken. These policies are reviewed and presented to Council for endorsement to ensure that they reflect the current legislative, financial and political environment.

Section 92 of the Local Government Act 1999 (the Act) requires Council to have a Code of Practice for Access to Meetings and Documents. The Act requires that this Code of Practice is reviewed within 12 months after each periodic election and that the Code must be consulted on prior to adoption.

This Code ensures that Council, the Elected Body and the community can refer to one document that clearly details the manner in which Council conducts Council meetings including how petitions and deputations are managed. The Code sets out the commitment of the City of Burnside to provide public access to Council and Council committee meetings and documents. It also outlines the provisions in the Act, which allow for restrictions on public access.

This Policy was endorsed for public consultation by Council on 26 April 2023.

You can view the draft Code of Practice - Access to Meetings and Documents in the Document Library on the right side of this page.