Water & environment · Central Coast Council
Central Coast AI policy heads to Council for proposed public exhibition
The Governance and Finance Committee endorsed a draft AI policy alongside proposed report disclosures and email-disclaimer changes, but Council must consider the recommendation before exhibition.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Central Coast Council’s Governance and Finance Committee has backed a draft Artificial Intelligence Implementation Policy alongside proposed changes to Council’s email disclaimer and a proposed section in Council reports indicating the level of artificial intelligence used in their preparation. The committee recommended that Council place the draft on public exhibition, rather than adopting the policy itself.
The resolution records that legal advice has been sought from Maddocks on the draft policy and the proposed changes to emails and Council reports. The advice, together with any changes recommended and accepted as a result, is to be provided with the report to Council. The recommendation is for Council to exhibit the draft incorporating any such accepted changes.
The committee endorsed the draft policy and carried the recommendation on 10 November with five votes for and none against. Councillor Jane Smith had been granted voting rights as an alternate member for the meeting.
The committee also recommended that Council receive a further report at the end of any exhibition period, outlining the engagement results and any proposed changes to the policy. The minutes do not give a date for Council’s consideration or for exhibition.
The proposal therefore remains conditional. The committee’s resolution supports public consultation, but it does not establish the final wording of the policy or confirm that the proposed email and report disclosures will be adopted.
What deserves a closer look
The committee supported sending the draft to Council, but the resolution does not record final adoption of the policy or the proposed disclosure arrangements.
The version considered for exhibition may include accepted legal-advice changes, while the minutes do not specify when Council will consider the recommendation or when exhibition would begin.
The further report after exhibition is a recommendation to Council, not an unconditional requirement established by this committee resolution.
Questions for follow-up reporting
When will Council consider the committee's recommendation?
What changes, if any, will be made as a result of Maddocks' legal advice?
What would the proposed Council-report AI disclosures and email-disclaimer changes say in any draft placed on exhibition?
What happens next
Under the committee's resolution, the draft is to be presented to Council with the legal advice and any changes recommended and accepted as a result.
If Council agrees to the exhibition recommendation, the draft would be placed on public exhibition.
If exhibition proceeds, the committee's recommendation calls for Council to receive a further report outlining engagement results and proposed policy changes.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Legal advice has been sought from Maddocks on the draft Artificial Intelligence Implementation Policy, proposed changes to Council's email disclaimer, and a proposed section in Council reports indicating the level of AI used in their preparation. The advice and any changes recommended and accepted as a result will be provided with the report to Council.
Receives the report on the Draft Artificial Intelligence Implementation Policy, prepared in response to Council Resolution C-26/1130. 2. Notes that legal advice has been sought from Maddocks in relation to the Draft Artificial Intelligence Implementation Policy, proposed changes to Council's email disclaimer and the proposed inclusion of a section in Council reports indicating the level of artificial intelligence used in their preparation, and that this advice, together with any changes recommended and accepted as a result, will be provided with the report to Council.
Item 2.2, GFC-26/55, clauses 1–2
Open original minutes ↗The quoted text recommends that Council place the draft Artificial Intelligence Implementation Policy on public exhibition, incorporating any changes recommended and accepted as a result of legal advice.
3. Endorses the Draft Artificial Intelligence Implementation Policy at Attachment 1, with potential amendments as outlined, to be presented to Council for public exhibition. 4. Recommends that Council: a. Places the draft Artificial Intelligence Implementation Policy at Attachment 1, incorporating any changes recommended and accepted as a result of the legal advice, as presented in the report to Council on public exhibition.
Item 2.2, GFC-26/55, clauses 3–4(a)
Open original minutes ↗The committee recommended that Council receive a further report at the conclusion of the exhibition period outlining engagement results and any proposed policy changes.
3. Endorses the Draft Artificial Intelligence Implementation Policy at Attachment 1, with potential amendments as outlined, to be presented to Council for public exhibition. 4. Recommends that Council: a. Places the draft Artificial Intelligence Implementation Policy at Attachment 1, incorporating any changes recommended and accepted as a result of the legal advice, as presented in the report to Council on public exhibition. b. Receives a further report at the conclusion of the exhibition period outlining the results of the engagement and any proposed changes to the policy. CARRIED FOR: Cr Wright, Mayor McNamara, Cr Crowley, Cr Eaton OAM and Cr Smith AGAINST: Nil Central Coast Council Governance and Finance Committee Minutes 10 November 2026 Page 8 OFFICIAL 2.3 Intellectual Property Policy - for Adoption 8:12pm A MOTION was MOVED by Cr Wright and SECONDED by Cr Eaton OAM: GFC-26/56 That the Committee adopts the Intellectual Property Policy in Attachment 1 of this report.
Item 2.2, GFC-26/55, clause 4(b)
Open original minutes ↗The motion was carried with five votes for and none against.
b. Receives a further report at the conclusion of the exhibition period outlining the results of the engagement and any proposed changes to the policy. CARRIED FOR: Cr Wright, Mayor McNamara, Cr Crowley, Cr Eaton OAM and Cr Smith AGAINST: Nil Central Coast Council Governance and Finance Committee Minutes 10 November 2026 Page 8 OFFICIAL 2.3 Intellectual Property Policy - for Adoption 8:12pm A MOTION was MOVED by Cr Wright and SECONDED by Cr Eaton OAM: GFC-26/56 That the Committee adopts the Intellectual Property Policy in Attachment 1 of this report.
Item 2.2, GFC-26/55, voting result before item 2.3
Open original minutes ↗Jane Smith was granted membership and voting rights as an alternate member for the Governance and Finance Committee meeting on 10 November 2026.
1.4 Apologies and Applications for Remote Attendance 7:01pm A MOTION was MOVED by Cr Wright and SECONDED by Cr Eaton: GFC-26/50 That the Committee: 1. Notes the written apology received from Councillor Kyle MacGregor. 2. Grants membership and voting rights to the alternate member, Councillor Jane Smith for the Governance and Finance Committee meeting on 10 November 2026. Central Coast Council Governance and Finance Committee Minutes 10 November 2026 Page 4 OFFICIAL CARRIED FOR: Cr Wright, Mayor McNamara, Cr Crowley, Cr Eaton OAM and Cr Smith AGAINST: Nil 1.5 Disclosures of Interest 7:02 pm No conflicts of interest were disclosed.
Item 1.4, GFC-26/50
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the supplied minutes of Central Coast Council’s Governance and Finance Committee meeting held on 10 November 2026. The supplied record does not establish whether those minutes have been confirmed.
Key facts from the minutes
- The Governance and Finance Committee endorsed a draft Artificial Intelligence Implementation Policy on 10 November 2026.
- The committee recommended that Council place the draft on public exhibition, incorporating any changes recommended and accepted as a result of legal advice.
- Legal advice from Maddocks concerns the policy, proposed changes to Council’s email disclaimer and proposed disclosure of AI use in Council reports.
- The committee recommended that Council receive a further report after any exhibition, outlining engagement results and proposed policy changes.
- The resolution was carried with five votes for and none against.
Why it matters
- Residents and organisations may have an opportunity to comment on how Central Coast Council uses and identifies artificial intelligence, including possible disclosures in Council reports and changes to its email disclaimer. The draft still requires Council consideration and may change after legal advice.