Extraordinary Council - 31 Mar 2026 6:00 PM

Topics

• Council sends 2024/2025 financial statements for audit
  Ordinary civic finance step has been formally progressed, with Council authorising signatories and referring the statements to the Audit Office of NSW.
  Audited accounts are the core public record of how Council manages money and financial risk.
• Financial statements and audit process
  The meeting focused on getting the 2024/2025 General Purpose and Special Purpose Financial Statements ready for external audit, with some discussion about signatory requirements and the submission deadline.
  Financial compliance matters because it affects Council governance, audit assurance and public reporting.

Decisions

• Financial statements authorised for audit
  Council authorised the Mayor, Chairperson of Finance Policy Committee, Chief Executive Officer and Director Corporate and Commercial Services to sign the statement by councillors and management, and referred the General Purpose and Special Purpose Financial Statements to the Audit Office of NSW for audit.
  This is part of Council’s annual financial compliance process and affects public accountability, but it does not directly change services or rates.
• Audit report to be presented to Council
  Council invited its auditor to present the Audit Report to Council after completion of the audit.
  Residents can expect a follow-up public audit presentation, which supports transparency over Council finances.
• Closed meeting resolved for confidential financial item
  Council resolved to move into closed meeting to consider a confidential additional item on the 2024/2025 Financial Statements.
  The discussion was not public, so any resident impact is not available from the open minutes.

Discussion

• Financial statements and audit process
  The meeting focused on getting the 2024/2025 General Purpose and Special Purpose Financial Statements ready for external audit, with some discussion about signatory requirements and the submission deadline.
  Financial compliance matters because it affects Council governance, audit assurance and public reporting.
• Confidential closed session
  Council excluded the public and press for a confidential financial item, with no public resolution details released from that session.
  Residents are not able to see the substance of the closed discussion from these minutes.

Impacts

• Council’s audited financial statements will proceed to the Audit Office of NSW.
• A future public audit presentation is expected.
• No direct service, planning or infrastructure changes were decided in the open section of the meeting.

Places

• Orange City Council (local government area)
  The meeting and decisions relate to Council’s financial governance for the Orange area.
• Civic Centre, Byng Street, Orange (civic facility)
  Venue where the extraordinary council meeting was held.

Next

• Complete the audit of the General Purpose and Special Purpose Financial Statements
  After referral to the Audit Office of NSW
• Present the Audit Report back to Council
  After the audit is completed
• Process any confidential financial matters considered in closed session
  Not specified

Extract

MINUTES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN COUNCIL CHAMBER, CIVIC CENTRE, BYNG STREET, ORANGE ON 31 MARCH 2026 COMMENCING AT 6:00 PM 1 INTRODUCTION ATTENDANCE Cr T Mileto (Mayor), Cr T Greenhalgh (Deputy Mayor), Cr G Judge, Cr F Kinghorne, Cr D Mallard, Cr M McDonell, Cr S Peterson, Cr G Power, Cr M Ruddy, Cr J Stedman, Cr J Whitton Chief Executive Officer, Director Corporate & Commercial Services, Governance Lead, Governance Officer (Maley) 1.1 APOLOGIES RESOLVED - 26/134 Cr G Judge/Cr T Greenhalgh That the apologies be accepted from Cr Duffy and that Council grant them a leave of absence from the Council Meeting of Orange City Council on 31 March 2026. For: Cr T Mileto (Mayor),...