How Decisions are Made
Decisions that formulate the City of Sydney's policies and services are made at a number of levels, from Council meetings to smaller committees and public forums that discuss specific issues.
With regard to decisions made by Council, most issues are first discussed at Council Committee meetings. Currently, Council has four Committees that meet approximately once every month on a Monday, generally from 2pm. Each Councillor is a member of each Committee and the Committees are held one after the other in the following order:
- Corporate, Finance, Properties and Tenders Committee
- Environment and Heritage Committee
- Cultural and Community Services Committee
- Planning Development and Transport Committee
All Committee meetings are held in the Council Chamber, Level 3, Town Hall House, 456 Kent Street.
Please find more information on the issues each of these Committees deals with here.
The public are welcome to address the Committees on the issues before them. There are guidelines for speakers that you may find useful if you wish to present to a Council Committee.
Once the Committees have discussed an issue they will refer it to Council for a final decision. Council meetings are generally held the Monday after the Committee meetings. The public are welcome to attend the Council meetings but are unable to address Councillors.
The Central Sydney Planning Committee, while technically a Committee of Council, does not refer its decisions to Council. Rather, it is the decision making body. Three Councillors are members of this Committee, with the remaining four members appointed by the Minister for Planning. Members of the public can address this Committee at its meetings, generally held once a month on a Thursday evening. More information on the Central Sydney Planning Committee can be found here.
Last Updated: Friday 28 August, 2009
