Ipswich meeting rules changed, conduct and investigation policies scrapped

Ipswich City Council has changed how councillors attend, debate and close meetings, adopting a revised Meeting Procedures Policy and repealing its separate Meeting Conduct and Investigation policies.

The unanimous vote on 27 August introduced a formal “Point of Correction” process and confirmed that councillors may attend council or committee meetings in person or by teleconference. The revised policy defines a quorum as a majority of the local government’s normal number of councillors.

Under the new correction process, a councillor who believes a material statement of fact is incorrect or misleading must raise the issue immediately, identify the statement and limit the intervention to the factual correction. It cannot be used to debate an opinion, interpretation or argument, or revisit a matter already decided.

The policy also sets the rule for public access when a procedural motion closes a meeting. Members of the public must leave and cannot re-enter until councillors pass a further motion to reopen the meeting.

Other changes cover notices of motion, the handling of debate and the process for repealing or amending a resolution. Written notice of an intention to repeal or amend a resolution must be given to every councillor at least five days before the meeting at which the proposal is to be considered.

The revised procedures include changes to the wording and timing of notices of motion, the circumstances in which debate can end, and the rights of councillors moving and seconding motions.

Council also repealed the Investigation Policy, but it will continue to apply to existing matters preserved under section 367 of the Local Government Act 2009 until a final determination is made on each matter.

The changes were adopted as part of the Finance and Governance Committee report, with the meeting-procedures item considered separately after Questions on Notice.