Have your say on draft Governance Rules changes

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 include an update to the 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 Council Meeting 
• the CEO 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 officers to present their report and a mover of a motion from three minutes to five minutes, and for Councillors speaking to a motion to four minutes, up from two minutes 
• 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. 

To view the draft Governance Rules and to have your say, visit the Engage Whittlesea website. Consultation is open until Tuesday 2 December 2025.  

Quotes attributable to the City of Whittlesea Mayor, Councillor Lawrie Cox: 

“We are committed to ensuring that our Governance Rules remain appropriate, represent good governance practices and take into consideration the findings and recommendations from across the Local Government sector.  

“The changes are subject to community feedback. It is clear that people want actions that enjoy at least some support not based on a whim or passing idea but it is up to our residents to express an opinion.

"As an experienced Councillor, I have seen the disruption caused in the past by multiple Notices of Motions, some of which relate to matters outside of Council's control, and this can lead to dysfunction.

“I encourage our community to view the proposed updates and provide your feedback to us for consideration.”