Business papers and minutes

Public forum

Rous may hold a public forum immediately prior to each ordinary meeting of the council if a member of the public has made a submissions on items of business to be considered at the meeting or other matters relevant to Council. The options for presenting are online via video conferencing or by providing a written submission.

If you would like to present, you will need to register by 10.00am the day prior to the Council meeting and identify the item of business on the agenda that you wish to speak on, whether you wish to speak ‘for’ or ‘against’ the item, and your preferred option for presenting.

To register, contact Council on (02) 6623 3800.

Public forums are chaired by Council’s chairperson or their nominee. Please note that the General Manager or their delegate may refuse an application to speak at a public forum. The General Manager (or delegate) must give reasons in writing for a decision to refuse an application.

Disclaimer for meetings

Statements and/or actions made at meetings: Statements made by individual persons at a meeting, including those contained in a recording of the meeting, are those of the individuals making them and not of Rous County Council. To be clear, unless set out in a resolution, Council does not endorse or support such statements.

Rous County Council does not accept any liability for statements made or actions taken by individuals during a meeting that may be contrary to law, including discriminatory, defamatory, or offensive comments. Such statements or actions are not protected by privilege and may be the subject of legal proceedings and potential liability, for which Council takes no responsibility.

Webcast: Recording of proceedings are not an official record of the meeting nor do they convey the official minutes of a meeting or the position of Rous County Council. Council takes no responsibility for, and accepts no liability, in the event that a recording of a meeting is unavailable. In accordance with section 236 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 (NSW), Council is required to make publicly available on its website an audio recording of each Council meeting for a minimum of up to 12 months following the meeting or for the balance of the council’s term, whichever is the longer period. Some recordings may not be available due to technical issues. Council retains the copyright in the recordings and prescribes the following conditions on their use:

Meeting recording usage: The audio or audio-visual recordings of council meetings must not be used for:

• Political party advertising
• Election campaigns
• Satire or ridicule, or
• Commercial sponsorship or commercial advertising.

The audio or audio-visual recordings may only be used or shared in the complete and unaltered state in which they are provided. Council accepts no liability for loss or damage arising from the use of the audio recordings, including (but not limited to) loss or damage arising from any defamatory comments made by persons in attendance at Council meetings.