Council Meetings

Council meetings are conducted in accordance with Council's Governance Rules (PDF, 689KB)which Council has developed and adopted as required by the Local Government Act 2020. If you require any information relating to Council meetings which is not available on this page, please lodge a request, or contact Council's governance team on (03) 5261 0600.  

 

Virtual Council Meetings

 As of 22 March 2022, all Council meetings except for Special Council Meetings for Hearing Submissions will return to being held in person at Council Chambers, 1 Merrijig Drive, Torquay unless advertised otherwise. The public is welcome to attend these meetings in person, or to view the meetings online via live streaming which is available on Council’s website. A recording of the live stream will be made available on Council’s website following the meeting.

 Council advises that the 23 May Council meeting will be held in Winchelsea at Eastern Reserve (70 Hopkins Street Winchelsea 3241). The public are welcome to attend this meeting. 

 

2023 Meeting Dates

2023 Meeting Dates

  • 28 February 2023 (Council Meeting)
  • 7 March 2023 (Special Council Meeting for Hearing Submissions - Amendment to Briody Drive West Development Plan)
  • 14 March 2023 (Special Council Meeting for Hearing Submissions - Development Plan - Surf Coast Aquatic & Health Centre; and Development of a Telecommunications Facility - 460 Grossmans Road, Bellbrae)
  • 28 March 2023 (Council Meeting)
  • 26 April 2023 (Council Meeting)
  • 16 May 2023 (Special Council Meeting - Hearing of Submissions - Planning Permit Application 21/0333 – Use & Development of a Retirement Village - 5 Coombes Road Torquay & Declaration of Intention to Discontinue Cypress Lane)
  • 23 May 2023 (Council Meeting)
  • 30 May 2023 (Special Council Meeting - Hearing of Submissions - Draft Budget Report 2023-24)
  • 27 June 2023 (Council Meeting)
  • 25 July 2023 (Council Meeting)
  • 22 August 2023 (Council Meeting)
  • 26 September 2023 (Council Meeting)
  • 24 October 2023 (Council Meeting)
  • 28 November 2023 (Council Meeting)
  • 12 December 2023 (Council Meeting)

Live Streaming

All Council meetings are live streamed and the recordings are also available after the meeting. Live streaming and meeting recordings can be accessed here: Live Streaming

Council advises that the 23 May Council meeting will be held in Winchelsea at Eastern Reserve (70 Hopkins Street Winchelsea 3241). The public are welcome to attend this meeting. 

 

 

Agendas and Minutes for Council Meetings

Council meeting agendas will usually be available via the below link by the close of business on the Thursday before the meeting.

If there is a delay with distribution of the agenda, this will be communicated on the Agendas and Minutes page linked below.

The minutes and recording will be online as soon as possible after the meeting, usually the following week.

Agendas and minutes for Council meetings

Public Question Time

Public Question Time

If you have a question you would like to ask at a meeting of Council, it must be received by 3pm on the day before the meeting. All questions will be managed in accordance with Council's Governance Rules(PDF, 597KB).  

To submit a question, please complete an online form (you will receive a copy of your completed form via email).

    Please note that questions relating to agenda items will be addressed first. Multiple questions relating to the same agenda item will be grouped and responded to together and repetitive questions will refer to previous answers. Questions that are unrelated to items on the meeting agenda will be answered at the discretion of the Chair and are subject to availability of time. If not answered at the meeting, a written answer will be provided within 5 days.

     

    Councillor Briefings and Workshops

    As outlined in the information below, which can be found in the Guide to Councils on the Know Your Council website, councillor briefings and workshops are an important part of council's decision making process.

    Council Briefings and Workshops

    It’s important that councillors find out about the detail of relevant issues before making decisions at council meetings.

    Some councils hold briefings or workshops to help brief councillors on day to day issues affecting the council. These are generally internal sessions with council staff, but, sometimes outside advisors are present.

    Briefing sessions enable councillors to discuss issues among themselves and with senior staff. These briefing sessions can help councillors understand a complex issue. They provide a way for councillors to request additional information to assist them in making decisions.

    Councillors cannot make legally binding decisions in briefings or workshops. At any meeting involving at least half the councillors and at least one member of staff (referred to as ‘assemblies of councillors’), where matters are likely to lead to a formal council decision, a record must be kept of those items considered and councillors are subject to the conflict of interest rules.

    Councillor briefing sessions should not be confused with public briefings. Public briefings are held by councils when they want to brief members of the community about council activities, or other significant matters that might be coming before the council in the near future.

    To learn more, visit the Know Your Council website.