q. Standing orders

It is recommended that local councils have, as a minimum, standing orders that set out the relevant statutory requirements relating to meetings, councillors and the proper officer. It is necessary for a council to have standing orders that regulate and control committees or subcommittees and their meetings, in respect of which some matters are not dictated by legislation. 

Standing orders will help control:

• the order of business at the annual meeting of a council

• submitting motions for debate at meetings

• public participation at meetings

• dealing with disorderly conduct

• awarding or entering into contracts for goods and services

• consideration of confidential or sensitive information that is prejudicial to the public interest

• review and management of delegation arrangements

• frequency and duration of meetings

• amendment, suspension or revocation of standing orders that do not incorporate statutory requirements.

NALC have produced model standing orders which can be tailored to suit individual councils, save for those printed in bold, which are based on statutory requirements and should not be changed.