Council & committee meetings
Council decisions are not made by individuals, they are made as a team. These decisions are made at certain meetings.
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Council meetings
One of your most important roles as a councillor is to participate in the decision making process at council meetings. Council meetings are held at least once a month.
You are required to be prepared for meetings. Meeting papers and reports are often detailed so you need to set aside time to read and understand the content before each meeting. Many councils provide electronic devices for councillors to read the council meeting agendas and reports.
Decisions at a council meeting are made by a majority vote. You must vote on every motion and amendment up for decision (unless you have a conflict of interest).
The mayor may only vote under limited circumstance. For example to cast a deciding vote when votes are equal.
If you are absent from three meetings in a row without approval, you may be removed from office.
Before you nominate to be a councillor, read a recent council meeting agenda (which you can find on your council’s website).
Attending a council meeting, which are open to the public is also a good idea to see how these meetings operate and the level of participation required of council members.
Council meetings are conducted using structured procedures. These are set out in the Local Government (Procedures at Meetings) Regulations 2013. You will complete training to ensure you can participate effectively and lawfully in council meetings.
Committee meetings
As a councillor, you may be asked to sit on a committee.
Councils establish committees to assist with their activities and functions. These committees may also include members of the public.
Reasons to set up a committee include to:
- look into matters and make recommendations to the council
- carry out projects or tasks on behalf of the council
- run facilities or activities on behalf of the council
- oversee works on behalf of the council
- exercise delegated powers, functions, or duties.
Information & briefing meetings
These sessions give you the chance to better understand proposals up for decision. They can also be used for planning, training, workshops, and improving discussion between councillors and the CEO and council staff.
The Local Government Act prescribes the requirements for information and briefing sessions . These sessions are not a formal meeting of the council. No decisions can be made at them. Topics cannot be discussed in a way that effectively reaches a decision.
If these meetings are about a matter that will be included in the formal council agenda, they must be open to the public (unless confidentiality criteria apply).
As a council member, you must be prepared to attend these sessions and work collaboratively with staff and other council members. This is to ensure you are well-informed for any formal decision making at a council meeting.
External meetings
You may also be required to represent council on other bodies, for example local organisations or school councils. This may also include representing local government at the state and national level with the Local Government Association of South Australia.
Meetings can be in person or online. Likewise, materials like agendas and reports may be given to you as a digital or print copy. Basic computer skills are important to have (or learn) to be a councillor.
Find out more about council meetings in the Meeting Procedures Handbook .