Rodney Stevens
Clarence Valley Council will explore holding its meetings at different times after a successful motion to review the code of meeting practice was carried at the July 25 meeting.
Currently council meetings are on the fourth Tuesday of every month, starting at 2pm, with the venue alternating each month between Grafton and Maclean chambers.
Meeting times were last considered by councillors in January 2022, and with the election of a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor in September, Cr Allison Whaites suggested more accommodating meeting times may provide mothers, business owners, or workers, the opportunity to run for council in 2024.
The motion was moved by Cr Whaites and seconded by Cr Karen Toms that council:
1.Calls for a review of the code of meeting practice in relation to times of council business meetings.
- Options for alternative times be workshopped 1st August 2023 with a report to the August 2023 Meeting.
“To see more community members attend the monthly meeting and allow business owners, full time workers, and parents to attend, I am seeking a more accommodating time schedule to suit the wider community,” Cr Whaites said.
Cr Whaites said surround councils including Lismore, Coffs Harbour, and Nambucca, hold their meetings after hours to allow the community to attend.
Cr Bill Day said he saw no problem or need to change the current meeting times, while Cr Jeff Smith said he had no problem with council workshopping alternate meeting times.
Selecting new meeting times, Cr Clancy said, was appropriate for the new council to do, and not an issue for council at the moment to decide.
The motion was carried 6-3 with Cr’s Clancy, Day, and Tiley voting against.