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. Council: Central Coast Council Meeting: 10 November 2026 Recorded status: mixed BRIEF Central Coast Council’s Governance and Finance Committee endorsed a draft Artificial Intelligence Implementation Policy and recommended that Council exhibit it incorporating any accepted legal-advice changes. The advice concerns the policy, proposed email-disclaimer changes and proposed disclosure of AI use in Council reports. The committee also recommended a further report after any exhibition; it did not finally adopt the policy. KEY FACTS - 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. ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD - 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? RECORDED NEXT STEPS - 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. SOURCE PASSAGES 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) 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)) 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)) 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) 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) SOURCES https://docspublished.com.au/centralcoastcouncil/document/15c8c1e4-b79d-4946-811f-81e03143cde2 https://minutesradar.com/news/central-coast-infocouncil-governance-and-finance-committee-tuesday-10-november-2026-10-nov-2026-7-00-pm-minutes-central-coast-ai-policy-hea-ce5c2c6591/ Prepared from public council minutes using automated drafting and checks. No meeting attendance or interviews are implied. Check the original record and seek comment before republishing claims or analysis. Illustrations are generic, not depictions of actual projects.