Draft Code of Meeting Practice 2025

The Cessnock City Council Chambers with chairs behind the tables.

Consultation has now closed. The Code of Meeting Practice 2025 was adopted by Council on Wednesday 19 November 2025.



You’re invited to provide feedback on Cessnock City Council's Draft Code of Meeting Practice. The exhibition period begins on 22 September 2025 and will be open for 42 days (Closing 5:00 pm, 3 November 2025).

The Draft Code of Meeting Practice (the Code) outlines how Council meetings are conducted, including all meetings of Council and committees where all members are Councillors. It ensures that meetings are accessible, orderly, effective, and efficient, aligning with the Office of Local Government’s Model Code which has recently been revised.

The most recent version of the Code was adopted in December 2024 following endorsement at the October 2024 Council meeting and a period of public exhibition. However, due to the release of the new model Code, Council is required to review its current Code by 31 December 2025.


Key Updates in the Draft Code:

  • Councils are now prohibited from conducting pre-meeting briefing sessions.
  • The reasons allowing Councillors to attend a meeting by audio-visual link has been restricted.
  • Power for the Chairperson to expel an individual from the chamber (including members of the public) where an act of disorder is not remedied as requested by the Chairperson.
  • Councils are required to make public confidential papers once they cease being confidential.
  • Additional powers provided to the Mayor including being able to put a Mayoral Minute to an extraordinary meeting without notice or call an extraordinary meeting on his or her own.

View Council's Draft Code here

A paper copy may be requested from Council's Administration Building.


How to make a submission

You can make a submission using the online form located below or clicking this link.

We value your input. To have your feedback considered, please submit your comments by 5:00 pm, 3 November 2025.

You can submit your feedback via:

Consultation has now closed. The Code of Meeting Practice 2025 was adopted by Council on Wednesday 19 November 2025.



You’re invited to provide feedback on Cessnock City Council's Draft Code of Meeting Practice. The exhibition period begins on 22 September 2025 and will be open for 42 days (Closing 5:00 pm, 3 November 2025).

The Draft Code of Meeting Practice (the Code) outlines how Council meetings are conducted, including all meetings of Council and committees where all members are Councillors. It ensures that meetings are accessible, orderly, effective, and efficient, aligning with the Office of Local Government’s Model Code which has recently been revised.

The most recent version of the Code was adopted in December 2024 following endorsement at the October 2024 Council meeting and a period of public exhibition. However, due to the release of the new model Code, Council is required to review its current Code by 31 December 2025.


Key Updates in the Draft Code:

  • Councils are now prohibited from conducting pre-meeting briefing sessions.
  • The reasons allowing Councillors to attend a meeting by audio-visual link has been restricted.
  • Power for the Chairperson to expel an individual from the chamber (including members of the public) where an act of disorder is not remedied as requested by the Chairperson.
  • Councils are required to make public confidential papers once they cease being confidential.
  • Additional powers provided to the Mayor including being able to put a Mayoral Minute to an extraordinary meeting without notice or call an extraordinary meeting on his or her own.

View Council's Draft Code here

A paper copy may be requested from Council's Administration Building.


How to make a submission

You can make a submission using the online form located below or clicking this link.

We value your input. To have your feedback considered, please submit your comments by 5:00 pm, 3 November 2025.

You can submit your feedback via:

Page last updated: 06 Jan 2026, 01:19 PM