Virtual Council Meetings Continue

YESTERDAY, the New South Wales Office of Local Government authorised a six-month extension allowing local Council’s to continue meeting online until March 25, 2021.

Local Councils have been able to livestream their meetings since April and are required to keep recordings online for at least twelve months, to guarantee public access.

Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said virtual meetings have been instrumental in ensuring the State’s 128 councils continue to function while minimising the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

“With councillors debating and determining important community issues at council meetings, it’s been vital that this decision making process has continued,” Mrs Hancock said.

“During the height of the pandemic, the overwhelming majority of the State’s 128 local Councils held virtual meetings, with many councils still choosing to meet electronically,” she said.

Mrs Hancock said the Government is also exploring the use of remote access to Council meetings to help increase diversity in local government including female representation.

“Many councils hold their meetings at night which can be difficult for people with family and carer responsibilities,” Mrs Hancock.

“Remote access to council meetings could help us overcome one of the barriers to increasing the number of female councillors in NSW councils,” she said.

The Upper Hunter Shire Council chose Youtube as their meeting platform, providing links to monthly ordinary meetings and a selection of committee meetings via their website.