The introduction of the revised NSW Model Code of Meeting Practice for local councils in January made significant changes to how council meetings and briefings are conducted.

The state government's recently introduced code of meetings for councils is not working, Georges River councillor, Kathryn Landsberry said.

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The introduction of the revised NSW Model Code of Meeting Practice for local councils in January made significant changes to how council meetings and briefings are conducted.

It included the end to councillor briefings by council staff, a separate public forum to council meetings, and stopping councillors from participating in meetings via video link.

"It's just not working,"Cr Landsberry told last month's council meeting. "I have never felt less informed as a councillor as I currently do now.

"In 22 years of being involved in council budgets this was the first time that we weren't able to sit down with council officers and go through things and understand what their thinking was and so they could get an idea what our thinking was.

"I wasn't aware of what was going to be included. It's baffling to me how banning briefings to councillors is going to enhance transparency. It just doesn't. In fact, it does the opposite. We are not able to work with council staff. It's crucial that councillors be involved in the process and to ask questions.

"We were able to meet online quite successfully during Covid and we are to get our work done. The fact that people are not prohibited from joining a council meeting or committee meeting online is absurd. It's a really backward step," she said.

Councillor Landsberry submitted a notice of motion calling on the mayor write to the NSW Minister for Local Government outlining the council's position and advocating a number of amendments.

Her notice of motion said that the state government's new Code of Meeting Practice effectively prohibits councillors from attending meetings remotely, limiting participation and potentially disenfranchising both elected representatives and their communities.

It prevents the holding of councillor briefings, which have historically played an important role in ensuring councillors are well-informed prior to public decision-making.

And it requires the public forum to be held separately from the full council meeting, which may reduce accessibility and community engagement rather than enhance it.

She asked that the council supports targeted amendments to the Code that would:

• allow councillors to attend meetings via audio-visual link in defined circumstances, including the introduction of a reasonable annual cap to maintain integrity while enabling flexibility.
• Reinstate the ability for councils to conduct councillor briefings, with appropriate safeguards to ensure transparency and compliance with legislative requirements.
• Provide councils with more discretion regarding the timing and format of public forums, including the option to hold them within the Ordinary Council Meeting where appropriate.
• That the council does not support the wholesale disallowance of the Code, noting that many elements of the Code are appropriate and beneficial, and the preferred approach is targeted amendment rather than complete repeal.

"I would implore the Local Government Minister, Ron Hoenig to reinstate the capacity for briefings with councillors," Cr Landsberry said

"We're the decision-makers and we need to be well-informed. New councillors need to know how the council works. You don't just wake up one day and understand how it all works," she said.

Georges River mayor Elise Borg supported her notice of motion.

"Councillors are flying blind without the ability to have briefings," she said.