Engagement summary

Consultation for the Governance Rules proposed amendments 2025 was run online in accordance with Section 60 (4) of the Local Government Act 2020 from 19 November until 2 December 2025.

What we heard

The overall sentiment of participants opposed the proposed changes to the Governance Rules. They felt the proposed changes would reduce local democracy, limit Councillors’ ability to speak up for residents, and make it harder for community issues to be raised and discussed at Council meetings.

The main concerns raised by majority of participants through the community engagement included:

  • Loss of community voice
    Many indicated they feared the proposed changes could make it harder for residents to have their concerns heard.
  • Harder for Councillors to act for residents
    The proposed change to require one-third of Councillors to sign a Notice of Motion was widely opposed by those who provided feedback. Participants were concerned the change would stop individual Councillors from raising issues on behalf of their residents.
  • Perceived increase in the power of Council administration
    There was concern around a perceived increase to the power of Council administration to reject Notices of Motion.
  • Limits on Notices of Motion
    Participants opposed limiting Notices of Motion to officer reports only and restricting Councillors to signing only two Notices of Motion per meeting. Respondents expressed concerned that this could slow down responses to important or urgent community issues.
  • Perceived centralisation of authority with Council administration
    Overall, many of the submissions received indicated they had concerns that the combined effect of the proposed changes could centralise authority with Council administration, rather than with elected Councillors and the community.

  • Governance Rules December 2025

    This document sets out the rules around meeting procedures, disclosure of conflicts of interest, elections and other matters for Council.

    Read here 

  • Engagement Summary Governance Rules December 2025

    Full engagement summary is available to read.

    Read summary 

Consultation

Governance Rules

Proposed updates to the City of Whittlesea Governance Rules were endorsed for community consultation at the Council Meeting on Tuesday 18 November 2025.

The Governance Rules set out the rules around meeting procedures, disclosure of conflicts of interest, elections and other matters for Council and are made in accordance with section 60 of the Local Government Act 2020.

Last updated in June 2024, the proposed updates to the Governance Rules are in response to the recent Commission of Inquiry report into the City of Whittlesea that was tabled in Parliament in October 2025 and other Council monitor recommendations.

Proposed changes to the Governance Rules

Proposed changes include an update to rule for Notices of Motion requiring that:

  • one third of the total number of Councillors must sign a Notice of Motion (up from one other Councillor). This same change is proposed for the Notice of Rescission Motion
  • a Notice of Motion can only call for an officer report to be presented at a future Councill Meeting
  • the CEO may reject any Notice of Motion not signed by one third of the total number of Councillors
  • a Councillor may only be a signatory for up to two submitted Notices of Motion for any meeting.

Other minor proposed changes include:

  • increase to speaking times for Councillors and officers
  • providing clarity when a mover of a motion can exercise a right of reply
  • providing clarity in relation to public questions, petitions and joint letters from the community.
Read the marked-up version showing proposed changes to Governance Rules open in new window