Finance and Governance Committee - 12 Oct 2026

Topics

• Georges River Council committee backs 6pm start for Ordinary Council Meetings
  A proposed one-hour earlier start could change when residents attend or follow Council’s main decision-making meetings.
  Residents may need to adjust work, school, transport and participation arrangements if Council adopts the recommendation.

Decisions

• Earlier start time for Ordinary Council Meetings
  The committee recommended that Council change the commencement time of Ordinary Council Meetings from 7.00pm to 6.00pm, effective from the meeting scheduled for 30 November 2026.
  Residents attending meetings in person or online will need to plan for the earlier 6.00pm start. The recommendation remains subject to Council consideration.
• Code of Conduct complaints statistics noted
  The committee recommended receiving and noting the Code of Conduct Complaints Statistics report covering 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026.
  This provides public oversight of complaints handled under the councillor and staff conduct framework, although the excerpt does not include complaint numbers or outcomes.
• Investment report noted
  The committee recommended that Council receive and note the Investment Report as at 31 August 2026.
  The report concerns Council’s investment oversight, but the excerpt does not provide investment balances, returns or financial performance.

Discussion

• Change to Council meeting times
  A recommendation was made to move Ordinary Council Meetings one hour earlier, from 7.00pm to 6.00pm, beginning 30 November 2026.
  The change may affect residents who attend, speak at or follow Ordinary Council Meetings.
• Governance and financial oversight reports
  The committee considered annual Code of Conduct complaints statistics and the investment position as at 31 August 2026.
  These reports support transparency over councillor and staff conduct processes and management of Council funds.

Impacts

• Ordinary Council Meetings are recommended to start at 6.00pm instead of 7.00pm from 30 November 2026.
• Residents should check the final Council meeting agenda and notices to confirm implementation of the revised time.
• No investment figures, complaint totals, spending allocations, planning decisions or service changes were provided in the extracted minutes.

Places

• Georges River Civic Centre, Hurstville (civic facility)
  Venue of the Finance and Governance Committee meeting.
• Georges River Council area (local government area)
  Area affected by the proposed change to Ordinary Council Meeting times and the governance and investment reporting.

Next

• Council to consider the recommendation to change Ordinary Council Meeting commencement times.
  Proposed to take effect from 30 November 2026.
• Council to receive and note the Code of Conduct Complaints Statistics and Investment Report recommendations.
  At a subsequent Council consideration of the committee recommendations.

Extract

MINUTES Finance and Governance Committee Monday, 12 October 2026 Dragon Room Georges River Civic Centre Hurstville Georges River Council - Minutes of Finance and Governance Committee Meeting - 12 October 2026 PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBERS The Mayor, Councillor Elise Borg, Councillor Christina Jamieson (Chair), Councillor Matthew Allison, Councillor Tom Arthur (online), Councillor Thomas Gao, Councillor Gerard Hayes, Councillor Kathryn Landsberry, Councillor Nancy Liu, Councillor Peter Mahoney, Councillor Natalie Mort, Councillor Sam Stratikopoulos, and Councillor Ben Wang. COUNCIL STAFF General Manager – David Tuxford, Director Assets and Infrastructure – Bryce Spelta, A/Director Environment and...