Special Council Meetings (SCM) - 26 March 2026

Key decisions

• Confidential legal matter considered in closed session
  Council moved into closed session under section 254J(3) of the Local Government Regulation 2012 to consider an item involving legal advice or legal proceedings concerning the local government.
  The matter involved legal issues affecting council decision-making, but details were not made public.
• Confidential attachment to remain confidential
  Council resolved that the confidential attachment to Item 4.1 be treated as confidential under sections 171 and 200 of the Local Government Act 2009 and remain confidential unless the Chief Executive Officer decides otherwise.
  Residents will not be able to access the attachment unless the Chief Executive Officer later releases it.
• Council to proceed in accordance with confidential recommendation
  Council resolved to proceed in accordance with the recommendation contained in Attachment 4, which was tabled and redacted in full in the public minutes.
  A substantive decision was made, but the action approved was not disclosed publicly.

Important topics

• Legal confidentiality
  The basis for confidentiality stated that discussion related to legal advice obtained by the local government or legal proceedings involving the local government.
  This explains why the debate and detailed outcome were withheld from the public record.
• Conflict of interest management
  The minutes record that Cr J Martin did not participate due to a conflict of interest, and that Cr N Fowler had a previously declared declarable conflict but had earlier been permitted to participate without conditions.
  This is relevant to transparency around how the decision was made.

Resident impacts

• Council made a decision on a legal matter, but the operative details were kept confidential.
• Public access to Attachment 4 is restricted unless the Chief Executive Officer decides otherwise.
• The meeting produced no publicly detailed policy, spending, planning, or service change outcome in the released minutes.

Places affected

• City of Gold Coast Council Chambers (facility)
  Meeting venue where the special council meeting was held.
• 135 Bundall Road (road/address)
  Address of the council chambers listed in the meeting record.
• Surfers Paradise (suburb)
  Location of the council chambers and meeting venue.

Next steps

• Implement the recommendation contained in confidential Attachment 4
  Following the 26 March 2026 resolution
• Maintain confidentiality of the attachment unless the Chief Executive Officer decides otherwise
  Ongoing

Extracted minutes text

866 CONFIRMED MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING THURSDAY 26 MARCH 2026 10:00AM Meeting commenced at 10:00am City of Gold Coast Council Chambers 135 Bundall Road Surfers Paradise TIM BAKER Chief Executive Officer Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Gold Coast Confirmed Minutes Thursday 26 March 2026 ORDER OF BUSINESS 1 ATTENDANCE/APOLOGIES .................................................................... 3 2 LEAVE OF ABSENCE ............................................................................... 3 3 CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS ........................................... 3 4 BUSINESS ........................................................................................