The Model Code of Meeting Practice is the first uniform set of meeting rules for councils. Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton said the code included optional time limits on meetings, a five-minute limit on councillor speeches, uniform rules of debate, and limits on mayoral minutes.

“There have been too many instances where Mayoral Minutes have been used to bring issues to the council without proper notice,” Ms Upton said.

Councils are also encouraged to hold public forums before ordinary meetings so residents can address the council as well as pre-meeting briefings for councillors where general managers outline business agenda items so they can make informed decisions.

It will also be mandatory for all councils in the state to web stream their meetings, as Dubbo Regional Council does.

“From now on, meetings will be more transparent, informed, inclusive and respectful,” Ms Upton said.

Dubbo Regional mayor Ben Shields said it was fantastic to see the Local Government Minister was thinking along the same lines as council to ensure transparency and more community involvement in council.

Since webcasting started in February there have been 1304 live views, with 1064 archived playbacks for the February to October meetings.

Cr Shields said he was quite surprised at how many people tuned into the live stream with 335 people watching one month.

“The gallery at meetings normally has less than 50 people so we are ensuring hundreds more people get involved with the democratic process and that can only be a good thing,” he said.

Dubbo Regional Council already holds a public forum and has pre-briefings for the councillors. 

“I am pleased to see we already meet the standards the government has set out. We made it clear after being elected last year that we wanted to be a transparent, cohesive council and now other councils will follow in our footsteps,” Cr Shields said.