Waverley councillor committee will open meetings to the public but bar public speakers

The all-councillor committee will meet generally on the fourth Tuesday of each month in Bondi Junction, with its first meeting scheduled for February 2027.

Council: Waverley Council

Meeting: 20 October 2026

Recorded status: approved


BRIEF

According to unconfirmed minutes, Waverley Council has established an all-councillor committee whose meetings will be open to the public and livestreamed. Its first meeting is scheduled for February 2027, and it will generally meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Boot Factory in Bondi Junction. Residents will not be able to address it. Separate councillor briefings may continue as needed.


KEY FACTS

- The unconfirmed minutes record that Council established an all-councillor committee with no delegation or decision-making power.

- Meetings will generally be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6.30pm at the Boot Factory, Spring Street, Bondi Junction.

- The first meeting is scheduled for February 2027, with Councillor Keri Spooner appointed deputy chair.

- Meetings are to be open and livestreamed, with agendas and minutes published online, but public addresses are not permitted.

- Amendments seeking to remove public-meeting provisions and the ban on briefing papers were declared lost; the main motion was declared carried.


ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD

- The resolution creates public access to committee meetings and records while excluding public addresses.

- The minutes distinguish between briefing papers at formal meetings and separate councillor briefings held as needed.

- The minutes record that the final motion was carried but do not provide a vote breakdown for that resolution.


QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP REPORTING

- What matters will be placed on the committee's first February 2027 agenda?

- How will Council publish the committee's livestreams and records in practice?

- How frequently will councillor briefings be held outside committee meetings?


RECORDED NEXT STEPS

- Under the recorded decision, hold the first Councillor Committee meeting in February 2027.

- Generally hold committee meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6.30pm at the Boot Factory, Spring Street, Bondi Junction.

- Publish committee agendas and minutes on Council's website and livestream meetings.

- Hold councillor briefings as needed in addition to committee meetings.


SOURCE PASSAGES

The recorded decision establishes a Councillor Committee whose role is to inform councillors, consider background information and consider periodic updates on matters relevant to Council. It comprises all councillors and has no delegation or decision-making power.
"DECISION That Council: 1. Establishes a Councillor Committee as a Council committee in accordance with clause 20.2 of the Code of Meeting Practice, with the following terms of reference: (a) The role of the Committee is to appropriately inform Councillors on matters relevant to their role, to consider background information on matters relevant to Council and to consider periodic updates on matters relevant to Council. (b) The Committee has no delegation or decision-making power. (c) The Committee is made up of all Councillors. (d) The Chair of the Committee is the Mayor unless they decline, in which case Council will appoint the Chair." (CM/6.1/26.10, decision, clause 1(a)–(d))

Committee meetings are open to the public and livestreamed, agendas and minutes will be publicly available on Council's website, and members of the public will not be allowed to address meetings.
"(e) The Deputy Chair is appointed by Council. (f) Meetings are open to the public and livestreamed, and the agendas and minutes will be publicly available on Council's website. (g) Members of the public will not be allowed to address meetings of the Committee, as the Committee has no decision-making power." (CM/6.1/26.10, decision, clause 1(f)–(g))

An amendment to delete clauses 1(f) and 1(g) was declared lost. An amendment to delete clause 6 was also declared lost, and the main motion was then declared carried.
"8. Holds Councillor briefings as needed in addition to meetings of the Councillor Committee. AMENDMENT 1 Mover: Cr Nemesh Seconder: Cr Stephenson That clauses 1(f) and 1(g) be deleted. THE AMENDMENT WAS PUT AND DECLARED LOST. AMENDMENT 2 Mover: Cr Spicer Seconder: Cr Townsend That clause 6 be deleted. THE AMENDMENT WAS PUT AND DECLARED LOST. THE MOTION WAS THEN PUT AND DECLARED CARRIED." (CM/6.1/26.10, amendments and motion outcome)

The record closes with a confirmation line 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 line)


SOURCES

https://waverley.infocouncil.biz/RedirectToDoc.aspx?URL=Open/2026/10/CM_20261020_MIN_880_AT.PDF

https://minutesradar.com/news/waverley-infocouncil-council-20-10-2026-20-10-2026-minutes-waverley-councillor-committee-will-open-meetings-to-the-public-but-bar-public-speakers/


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.