Council & accountability · Waverley Council
Waverley adopts Artificial Intelligence Policy
Unconfirmed minutes record unanimous adoption on 20 October, but do not explain the policy’s safeguards, scope or start date.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Waverley Council’s unconfirmed minutes record unanimous adoption of an Artificial Intelligence Policy on 20 October 2026. Councillors Steven Lewis and Ludovico Fabiano moved and seconded the resolution.
The policy was included in the meeting’s items adopted by exception and is identified in the minutes as the policy attached to the report. The supplied record does not reproduce that attachment, so it does not show what requirements apply to council staff, technology suppliers or AI-related services.
That leaves key practical questions unanswered, including whether the policy sets rules for data handling, human oversight, procurement or automated tools. The minutes also do not state when the policy takes effect or identify the council functions it covers.
A separate proposal on recording-capable wearable devices was deferred to the 17 November meeting. The motion proposes asking the General Manager to develop technology-neutral restrictions for privacy-sensitive council facilities and public places, with accessibility safeguards and enforcement arrangements. It also proposes that the matter be considered as part of Council’s broader Artificial Intelligence Policy and emerging-technology governance work, but those requests were not adopted.
What deserves a closer look
The minutes record adoption of the attached policy but do not reproduce its contents, so its safeguards, scope and implementation arrangements cannot be assessed from this record.
The wearable-device proposal is a separate deferred matter, not a measure adopted through the AI policy resolution.
The record does not explicitly label itself draft. It is treated as unconfirmed because its signing and confirmation block is dated 17 November 2026, after the supplied source-check date of 26 October 2026.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What safeguards and human-oversight requirements are contained in the attached policy?
Which Council functions, systems or services does the policy cover, and when does it take effect?
Does the policy address guidance for technology suppliers and residents about AI-assisted services or decisions?
What happens next
The Wearable Recording Devices item is due to return to Council on 17 November 2026; the requests in its motion remain proposals.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The record identifies the Waverley Council meeting as held on 20 October 2026 and lists councillors Steven Lewis and Ludovico Fabiano.
Minutes of Council Meeting 20 October 2026 This is page 1 of the minutes of the Council meeting held on 20 October 2026 MINUTES OF THE WAVERLEY COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE BOOT FACTORY, SPRING STREET, BONDI JUNCTION ON TUESDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2026 Present: Councillor Steven Lewis (Mayor) (Chair) Hunter Ward Councillor Keri Spooner (Deputy Mayor) Waverley Ward Councillor Ludovico Fabiano Waverley Ward Councillor Dov Frazer Hunter Ward Councillor Paula Masselos Lawson Ward Councillor Margaret Merten Bondi Ward Councillor Will Nemesh Hunter Ward Councillor Joshua Spicer Waverley Ward Councillor Michelle Stephenson Bondi Ward Councillor Lauren Townsend
Meeting title and councillor list
Open original minutes ↗Council's adoption of the Artificial Intelligence Policy attached to the report is recorded as a unanimous decision, moved by Cr Lewis and seconded by Cr Fabiano.
CM/7.7/26.10 Artificial Intelligence Policy - Adoption (A26/0174) MOTION / UNANIMOUS DECISION Mover: Cr Lewis Seconder: Cr Fabiano That Council adopts the Artificial Intelligence Policy attached to the report.
CM/7.7/26.10 Artificial Intelligence Policy - Adoption
Open original minutes ↗The Artificial Intelligence Policy was included among the items adopted by exception.
ITEMS BY EXCEPTION MOTION / UNANIMOUS DECISION Mover: Cr Lewis Seconder: Cr Fabiano The Council adopts the following items as set out in the agenda: CM/5.1/26.10 Confirmation of Minutes – Council Meeting – 15 September 2026. CM/7.1/26.10 Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee Meetings – 25 August 2026 and 27 August 2026 – Minutes. CM/7.2/26.10 Transport Forum Meeting – 19 August 2026 – Minutes. CM/7.4/26.10 Audited Financial Statements 2025–2026. CM/7.5/26.10 Investment Portfolio Report – September 2026. CM/7.7/26.10 Artificial Intelligence Policy – Adoption. CM/7.14/26.10 Planning Agreement – 34 Hall Street, Bondi Beach. CM/7.16/26.10 Tender Evaluation – SSROC Panel – Wet and Dry Plant and Equipment Hire.
Items by exception
Open original minutes ↗The Wearable Recording Devices item was deferred by the Chair to the Council meeting on 17 November 2026.
CM/8.13/26.10 Wearable Recording Devices (A26/1205) The item was deferred by the Chair to the Council meeting on 17 November 2026. MOTION That Council: 1. Notes the increasing availability of smart glasses and other wearable technologies capable of discreetly recording images, video and audio, and the benefits they may provide, including as assistive technology for people with disability.
CM/8.13/26.10 Wearable Recording Devices
Open original minutes ↗The proposed requests would have the General Manager develop technology-neutral restrictions on recording-capable wearable devices in privacy-sensitive council-operated or council-managed facilities and public places, including accessibility exemptions and enforcement arrangements.
5. Requests the General Manager to develop technology-neutral restrictions on recording-capable wearable devices in privacy-sensitive areas of Council-operated or Council-managed facilities and public places, including those listed in clause 3 and any other locations identified by the General Manager. 6. Requests that the proposed restrictions: (a) Apply to emerging recording-capable wearable technologies, not only smart glasses. Minutes of Council Meeting 20 October 2026 This is page 32 of the minutes of the Council meeting held on 20 October 2026 (b) Include reasonable exemptions for disability, accessibility, medical and other legitimate purposes. (c) Be supported by appropriate conditions of entry, signage, staff procedures and enforcement arrangements. (d) Be developed in consultation with relevant disability organisations and other stakeholders.
CM/8.13/26.10 proposed clauses 5 and 6
Open original minutes ↗A proposed clause requests that the matter be considered as part of Council's broader Artificial Intelligence Policy and emerging-technology governance work.
7. Officers prepare a report to Council setting out the proposed restrictions, legal considerations, accessibility safeguards and implementation arrangements. 8. Requests that the matter be considered as part of Council's broader Artificial Intelligence Policy and emerging technology governance work.
CM/8.13/26.10 proposed clause 8
Open original minutes ↗The minutes contain a mayoral signing and confirmation block dated 17 November 2026.
13. Meeting Closure THE MEETING CLOSED AT 11.47 PM. ............................................................. SIGNED AND CONFIRMED MAYOR 17 NOVEMBER 2026
Meeting closure and confirmation block
Open original minutes ↗Source record
This article reports from the supplied, unconfirmed minutes of Waverley Council’s meeting held on 20 October 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The unconfirmed minutes record Council adopting the Artificial Intelligence Policy attached to the report.
- The decision was recorded as unanimous at the 20 October 2026 meeting.
- The policy was included in the items adopted by exception.
- The supplied minutes do not set out the policy’s detailed safeguards or implementation arrangements.
- A separate proposal concerning recording-capable wearable devices was deferred to 17 November 2026; its proposed requests were not adopted.
Why it matters
- Council’s adoption of an AI policy is recorded, but its safeguards, scope and implementation arrangements cannot be assessed from the supplied minutes.