{"id":"palmerston-procedures-for-meetings-bylaws-2003","name":"PALMERSTON (PROCEDURES FOR MEETINGS) BY-LAWS 2003","slug":"palmerston-procedures-for-meetings-by-laws-2003","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":177075,"registerId":"nt-palmerston-procedures-for-meetings-bylaws-2003-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"PALMERSTON (PROCEDURES FOR MEETINGS) BY-LAWS 2003","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nPALMERSTON (PROCEDURES FOR MEETINGS) BY-LAWS 2003\nAs in force at 1 July 2008\nTable of provisions\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Citation ............................................................................................ 1\n2 Application ....................................................................................... 1\n3 Interpretation ................................................................................... 1\nPart 2 Meetings of council and committees\n4 Ordinary meetings of the council ..................................................... 2\n5 Commencement of meetings and quorums ..................................... 3\n6 Minutes ............................................................................................ 3\n7 Order of business ............................................................................ 4\n8 Business paper ................................................................................ 4\n9 Chairman's report ............................................................................ 5\n10 Reports of delegates ....................................................................... 5\n11 Questions ........................................................................................ 5\n12 Petitions ........................................................................................... 6\n13 Deputations ..................................................................................... 6\n14 Motions ............................................................................................ 7\n15 Amendments to motions .................................................................. 9\n16 Withdrawal of motion or amendment ............................................. 10\n17 Address by members ..................................................................... 10\n18 Voting ............................................................................................ 10\n19 Adjourned business ....................................................................... 11\n20 Chairman to take precedence........................................................ 12\n21 Mode of addressing members and officers .................................... 12\n22 Priority of speaking ........................................................................ 12\n23 Members to stand when speaking ................................................. 12\n24 Imputation ...................................................................................... 12\n25 Points of order ............................................................................... 12\n26 Interruption of meeting by members .............................................. 13\n27 Interruption of meetings by others ................................................. 14\n28 Removal of persons from meetings ............................................... 14\n29 Public participation at meetings ..................................................... 14\nPart 3 Other procedures for committee meetings\n30 Calling committee meetings........................................................... 14\n31 Chairman of standing committee ................................................... 15\n32 Chairing meetings .......................................................................... 15\n33 Committee meetings open except as prescribed ........................... 15\n\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 ii\n34 Standing committees may appoint subcommittees........................ 15\n35 Reports to council by committees .................................................. 16\n36 Power to determine procedures..................................................... 16\nPart 4 Repeal\n37 Repeal ........................................................................................... 16\nENDNOTES\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 1 July 2008\n____________________\nPALMERSTON (PROCEDURES FOR MEETINGS) BY-LAWS 2003\nBy-laws under the Local Government Act 2008\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Citation\nThese By-laws may be cited as the Palmerston (Procedures for\nMeetings) By-laws 2003.\n2 Application\nThese By-laws apply in relation to:\n(a) meetings of the council;\n(b) meetings of a standing committee of the council; and\n(c) meetings of any other committee of the council if the council\nhas determined by resolution that these By-laws apply to that\ncommittee.\n3 Interpretation\n(1) In these By-laws, unless the contrary intention appears:\nclear days has the meaning in clause (2).\nchairman means:\n(a) the mayor or other presiding member of the council; or\n(b) the chairman of a committee and includes another member of\na committee when that member is presiding at a meeting of\nthe committee,\n(as the case may be).\ncommittee means:\n(a) a standing committee of the council; or\n\nPart 2 Meetings of council and committees\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 2\n(b) a committee of the council referred to in by-law 2(c).\ndeputation means a person or group of persons who wish to\nappear personally before the council in order to address the council\non a particular matter.\nformal motion means a motion:\n(a) that the meeting proceed to the next business;\n(b) that the question be put;\n(c) that the question lie on the table;\n(d) that the question be adjourned; or\n(e) that the meeting be adjourned.\nmeeting means a meeting of the council or a committee (as the\ncase may be).\nmember means a member of the council or a committee (as the\ncase may be).\nordinary meeting means an ordinary meeting of the council or a\ncommittee (as the case may be).\npoint of order means a point made to draw attention to an alleged\nbreach of the Act or these By-laws in relation to the proceedings of\na meeting.\nwritten notice includes notice in a manner or form determined by\nthe council.\n(2) In calculating the number of clear days before the date of a meeting\nreferred to in by-law 11(2), 13 (1) or 14 (2):\n(a) the day on which a notice is given or an application is made,\nand the day on which the meeting occurs, are not to be taken\ninto account; and\n(b) Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are to be taken into\naccount.\nPart 2 Meetings of council and committees\n4 Ordinary meetings of the council\nAn ordinary meeting of the council must be held on the day and at\nthe time in each month as the council determines by resolution.\n\nPart 2 Meetings of council and committees\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 3\n5 Commencement of meetings and quorums\n(1) A meeting must commence as soon after the time specified in the\nnotice of meeting as a quorum is present.\n(2) If the number of apologies received by the clerk indicates that a\nquorum will not be present at a meeting, the clerk may adjourn the\nmeeting to a specified day and time.\n(3) If 30 minutes after the time specified in the notice of meeting as the\ntime of commencement a quorum is not present, the chairman or, in\nthe chairman's absence, the clerk must adjourn the meeting to a\nspecified day and time.\n(4) If a meeting is adjourned for the want of a quorum, the clerk must\nrecord in the minute book:\n(a) the reason for the adjournment;\n(b) the names of the members present (if any); and\n(c) the date and time to which the meeting is adjourned.\n(5) If a meeting is adjourned to another day, the clerk must:\n(a) give notice of the adjourned meeting to each member setting\nout the date, time and place of the meeting; and\n(b) give notice of the adjourned meeting to the public by\ndisplaying a notice setting out the date, time and place of the\nmeeting at the council office.\n6 Minutes\n(1) The minutes of the proceedings at a meeting must be submitted for\nconfirmation at the next ordinary meeting.\n(2) No discussion on the minutes may occur before the confirmation\nexcept as to the accuracy of the minutes as a record of\nproceedings.\n(3) On the confirmation of the minutes, the chairman must:\n(a) initial each page of the minutes, which pages are to be\nconsecutively numbered; and\n(b) place his or her signature and the date of confirmation at the\nfoot of the last page of the minutes.\n\nPart 2 Meetings of council and committees\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 4\n7 Order of business\n(1) Subject to these By-laws, the order of business at an ordinary\nmeeting must be as the council or the committee (as the case may\nbe) determines by resolution.\n(2) Despite a determination under clause (1), the order of business at\nan ordinary meeting may be altered for a particular meeting if the\nmembers at that meeting pass a motion to that effect.\n(3) A motion under clause (2) may be moved without notice.\n8 Business paper\n(1) The clerk must, as soon as practicable before an ordinary meeting\nor within such other time as the council or the committee (as the\ncase may be) determines by resolution, prepare a business paper\nfor the meeting.\n(2) Copies of the business paper must be made available to the public,\nat the council office and at the other places the council or the\ncommittee (as the case may be) determines by resolution, as soon\nas practicable before the meeting.\n(3) The business paper prepared under clause (1) may contain any of\nthe following:\n(a) matters of which notice has been given in accordance with\nthese By-laws;\n(b) questions of which notice has been given in accordance with\nthese By-laws;\n(c) matters referred to the council by a committee or matters\nreferred to the committee by a subcommittee (as the case\nmay be);\n(d) officers' reports referred to the meeting by the clerk;\n(e) any other business the council or the committee (as the case\nmay be) determines by resolution is to be contained in the\nbusiness paper.\n(4) Subject to these By-laws, the council or the committee (as the case\nmay be) may set by resolution a time prior to which items for\ninclusion in the business paper must be received by the clerk.\n\nPart 2 Meetings of council and committees\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 5\n9 Chairman's report\nAfter the confirmation of the minutes under by-law 6, the chairman\nmay make any report to the meeting that he or she believes is\nnecessary or expedient to make at the meeting.\n10 Reports of delegates\nAt a meeting of the council, following the report (if any) of the\nchairman under by-law 9, any member who is a delegate or\nrepresentative of the council in any other organisation may make a\nreport to the council on any matter affecting that organisation that\nhe or she considers should be brought to the attention of the\nmeeting.\n11 Questions\n(1) Subject to this by-law, a member at a meeting may ask a question\nfor reply by another member or the clerk.\n(2) A member may ask a question on notice by giving the clerk written\nnotice of the question at least 5 clear days before the date of the\nmeeting at which the question is to be asked.\n(3) If notice of a question is given under clause (2):\n(a) the clerk must ensure that the question is placed on the\nbusiness paper for the meeting at which the question is to be\nasked; and\n(b) the question and the reply must be entered in the minutes of\nthe meeting at which the reply is given.\n(4) A member may ask a question without notice at a meeting.\n(5) The chairman may allow the reply to a question without notice to be\ngiven at the next meeting.\n(6) A question without notice and the reply may be entered in the\nminutes of the meeting at which the reply is given but only if the\nmembers present at that meeting resolve that the question and the\nreply should be entered in those minutes.\n(7) The chairman may rule that a question with or without notice is not\nrequired to be answered if the chairman considers that the question\nis vague, irrelevant, insulting or improper.\n(8) A question must be asked categorically and without argument and\nno discussion may occur at the meeting in relation to a reply by the\nmember or clerk or a refusal of a member to reply to the question.\n\nPart 2 Meetings of council and committees\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 6\n(9) A member who asks a question is taken as not having spoken to\nthe debate on the motion to which the question relates.\n12 Petitions\n(1) A petition to the council must:\n(a) be legibly written or typed or printed;\n(b) be addressed to the council;\n(c) clearly set out the request or submission of the petitioners;\nand\n(d) restate the whole of the petition on each page of the petition.\n(2) If a page of a petition does not comply with clause (1)(d), the\nsignatures on the page are not to be taken into account by the\ncouncil when considering the petition.\n(3) When a petition is presented to a meeting of the council, a member\nof the public who is associated with the petition and is present at\nthe meeting may stand and, if recognised by the chairman, may\nmake a brief statement regarding the petition.\n(4) A person must not append to a petition:\n(a) a signature purporting to be that of another person; or\n(b) the name of another person.\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n(5) An offence against clause (4) is a regulatory offence.\n13 Deputations\n(1) A deputation wishing to attend and be heard at a meeting of the\ncouncil or a standing committee must, not less than 7 clear days\nbefore the date of the meeting, apply in writing to the clerk.\n(2) The application must state why the deputation wishes to attend and\nbe heard.\n(3) On receiving an application under clause (1), the clerk must notify\nthe mayor of the application and the mayor must determine whether\nthe deputation may be heard and notify the clerk accordingly.\n(4) If the clerk is notified by the mayor under clause (3), the clerk must:\n(a) inform the deputation of the mayor's determination; and\n\nPart 2 Meetings of council and committees\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 7\n(b) where the mayor has determined to hear the deputation,\narrange a convenient time for the deputation to be heard at a\nmeeting of the council.\n(5) Only 2 persons in a deputation may address a meeting of the\ncouncil or a standing committee unless the members at the meeting\ndetermine otherwise by resolution.\n(6) A person in a deputation who is addressing a meeting of the council\nor a standing committee must be temperate in speech and manner\nand must not use insulting or offensive language.\n(7) The chairman may terminate an address by a person in a\ndeputation if:\n(a) the chairman is satisfied that the purpose of the deputation\nhas been sufficiently explained to the members at the\nmeeting; or\n(b) the person is intemperate in speech or manner or uses\ninsulting or offensive language.\n14 Motions\n(1) A member may bring forward any business in the form of a written\nnotice of motion.\n(2) The notice of motion must be given to the clerk at least 5 clear days\nbefore the date of the meeting at which the motion is to be moved.\n(3) A motion the effect of which would, if carried, be to revoke or\namend a resolution passed since the last general election of the\ncouncil must be brought by written notice of motion.\n(4) If a motion under clause (3) is lost, a motion to the same effect\ncannot be brought:\n(a) until after the expiry of 3 months; or\n(b) until after the next general election,\nwhichever is the sooner.\n(5) If a member who has given notice of a motion under clause (1) is\nabsent from the meeting at which the motion is to be considered,\nthe motion may be:\n(a) moved by another member at the meeting; or\n(b) deferred to the next ordinary meeting.\n\nPart 2 Meetings of council and committees\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 8\n(6) Subject to the Act and these By-laws, a member may also bring\nforward any business by way of a motion without notice.\n(7) A member proposing a motion without notice must put it in writing if\nrequired to do so by the chairman.\n(8) The chairman must not accept a motion without notice if the effect\nof the motion would, if carried, be to incur expenditure in excess of\n$1 000 unless:\n(a) the motion relates to the subject matter of a committee's or\nsubcommittee's recommendation (as the case may be), or an\nofficer's report, that is listed for consideration on the business\npaper; or\n(b) the matter is urgent.\n(9) The chairman may refuse to accept a motion or amendment if, in\nhis or her opinion, the subject matter is beyond the power of the\ncouncil or the committee (as the case may be).\n(10) A motion lapses if it is not seconded at the appropriate time.\n(11) A member may only speak once to a motion and once to an\namendment except:\n(a) to provide an explanation in regard to a material part of his or\nher speech but not so as to introduce any new matter;\n(b) with leave of the meeting; or\n(c) as the mover in reply.\n(12) A member who has not spoken in the debate on a motion or an\namendment may move a formal motion.\n(13) A formal motion must be in the form, and has the effect, set out in\nclause (15).\n(14) A formal motion in any other form, or having any other effect, must\nnot be recognised.\n(15) The effect of a formal motion is (if successful) that:\n(a) if the motion is that the meeting proceed to the next business:\n(i) if the debate is on an amendment – the amendment\nlapses and the meeting proceeds with the consideration\nof the motion before the meeting without further\nreference to the amendment; or\n\nPart 2 Meetings of council and committees\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 9\n(ii) if the debate is on a motion – the motion lapses and the\nmeeting proceeds to the next item of business;\n(b) if the motion is that the question be put – debate is terminated\nand the question put to the vote by the chairman without\nfurther debate;\n(c) if the motion is that the question lie on the table – the meeting\nimmediately moves to the next item of business and the\nquestion can only be retrieved at a later time by resolution\nand, if retrieved, debate is resumed at the point of interruption;\n(d) if the motion is that the question be adjourned – the question\nis disposed of for the time being but debate can be resumed at\nthe later time at the point of interruption; or\n(e) if the motion is that the meeting be adjourned – the meeting is\nbrought to an end immediately without the consideration of\nfurther business.\n(16) If seconded, a formal motion takes precedence and must be put by\nthe chairman without discussion unless the motion is for an\nadjournment, in which case discussion may occur but only on the\ndetails for resumption.\n(17) A formal motion does not constitute an amendment to a substantive\nmotion.\n(18) If a formal motion is lost:\n(a) the meeting must be resumed at the point of interruption; and\n(b) if the formal motion was put during (not at the end of) debate\non a question, a motion to the same effect cannot be put until\nat least one member has spoken on the question.\n(19) A formal motion for adjournment must include the reason for the\nadjournment and the details for resumption.\n15 Amendments to motions\n(1) A member (other than the mover or seconder of a motion under\nconsideration) may move or second an amendment to the motion.\n(2) An amendment lapses if it is not seconded at the appropriate time.\n(3) If an amendment is lost, only one further amendment may be\nmoved to the original motion.\n\nPart 2 Meetings of council and committees\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 10\n(4) If an amendment is carried, only one further amendment may be\nmoved to the original motion.\n(5) An amendment to a motion must be in terms that retain the identity\nof the original motion and do not negate the motion.\n(6) If a motion is amended by another motion, the original motion must\nnot be put as a subsequent motion to amend the other motion.\n16 Withdrawal of motion or amendment\n(1) The mover of a motion or amendment may, with the consent of the\nseconder, request leave of the meeting to withdraw the motion or\namendment.\n(2) The chairman must immediately put the question for leave to be\ngranted and must not allow debate on that question.\n17 Address by members\n(1) Subject to by-law 20(2), a member must not speak for longer than\n5 minutes at any one time without leave of the meeting.\n(2) A member may, with leave of the meeting, raise a matter of\nurgency.\n(3) A member may, with leave of the meeting, make a personal\nexplanation.\n(4) The subject matter of a personal explanation may not be debated\nunless it is a personal explanation made under by-law 26(3).\n(5) The contribution of a member must be relevant to the subject\nmatter of the debate.\n18 Voting\n(1) The chairman or another member may ask the clerk to read out a\nmotion before a vote is taken.\n(2) In taking a vote, the chairman:\n(a) must ask:\n(i) first for the votes of the members in favour of the\nquestion; and\n(ii) then for the votes of the members against the question,\nand may do so as often as is necessary to enable him or her\nto determine the result of the voting; and\n\nPart 2 Meetings of council and committees\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 11\n(b) must then declare the outcome.\n(3) A division must be taken at the request of a member made\nimmediately following the declaration by the chairman under\nclause (2) of the outcome of a vote.\n(4) If a division is called for, it must be taken immediately and the\nprevious decision of the chairman as to whether the motion was\ncarried or lost is set aside.\n(5) The division must be taken as follows:\n(a) the members voting in the affirmative must stand in their\nplaces until the vote is recorded;\n(b) the members voting in the negative must sit in their seats until\nthe vote is recorded;\n(c) the chairman must count the number of votes and then\ndeclare the outcome.\n(6) After a division is taken, the clerk must record in the minutes:\n(a) the result of the vote on the division;\n(b) the names of the members who voted in the affirmative; and\n(c) the names of the members who voted in the negative.\n19 Adjourned business\n(1) If a formal motion for a substantive motion to be adjourned is\ncarried:\n(a) the adjournment may either be to a later hour of the same day,\nto another day or to another place; and\n(b) on resumption, the debate must continue from the point at\nwhich it was adjourned.\n(2) If debate is interrupted for the want of a quorum and the meeting is\nthen adjourned, on resumption, the debate must continue from the\npoint at which it was interrupted.\n(3) Business adjourned from a previous meeting must be dealt with\nbefore any new business at a subsequent meeting.\n\nPart 2 Meetings of council and committees\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 12\n20 Chairman to take precedence\n(1) If at any time during the debate of a matter at a meeting the\nchairman indicates he or she intends to speak, a member speaking\nor proposing to speak to the debate must cease speaking and\nremain silent, or refrain from speaking, until the chairman has been\nheard.\n(2) When a member who ceased speaking in accordance with\nclause (1) resumes speaking, the member's remaining speaking\ntime under by-law 17(1) is increased by one minute.\n21 Mode of addressing members and officers\nA member at a meeting must address and refer to another member\nor an officer by that member's or officer's official title or designation.\n22 Priority of speaking\nIf 2 or more members at a meeting rise to speak at the same time,\nthe chairman must decide which member will be heard first.\n23 Members to stand when speaking\nA member at a meeting must stand when speaking to a matter\nbeing considered at the meeting unless:\n(a) prevented from doing so by a physical disability; or\n(b) the council or the committee (as the case may be) has\ndetermined otherwise by resolution.\n24 Imputation\nA member speaking at a meeting must not make a personal\nreflection on, or impute an improper motive to, another member.\n25 Points of order\n(1) The chairman may call to order a member at a meeting who is in\nbreach of the Act or these By-laws in relation to the proceedings of\nthe meeting.\n(2) A member may raise a point of order and must state briefly the\nnature of the alleged breach.\n(3) A point of order takes precedence over all other business until\ndetermined.\n(4) The chairman must rule on a point of order immediately.\n\nPart 2 Meetings of council and committees\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 13\n(5) If an objection is taken to the ruling of the chairman, a motion that\nthe ruling not be agreed with must be moved immediately.\n(6) The chairman is entitled to make a statement in support of the\nruling before a motion under clause (5) is put.\n(7) A motion carried under clause (5) binds the meeting and, if the\nruling of the chairman is not agreed with:\n(a) the ruling has no effect; and\n(b) the point of order is annulled.\n26 Interruption of meeting by members\n(1) A member at a meeting:\n(a) must not behave in an improper or disorderly manner; or\n(b) must not cause an interruption or interrupt another member\nwho is speaking.\n(2) Clause (1)(b) does not apply to a member who is:\n(a) objecting to words used by a member who is speaking;\n(b) raising a point of order; or\n(c) calling attention to the want of a quorum.\n(3) If the chairman considers that a member may have acted in\ncontravention of clause (1), the member must be allowed to make a\npersonal explanation.\n(4) Subject to clause (3), the member alleged to have contravened\nclause (1) must leave the meeting while the contravention is being\nconsidered by the meeting.\n(5) If the remaining members resolve that a contravention of clause (1)\nhas occurred, those members may, by resolution:\n(a) censure the member; or\n(b) suspend the member for a part, or for the remainder, of the\nmeeting.\n(6) A member commits an offence if the member:\n(a) refuses to leave a meeting in contravention of clause (4); or\n\nPart 3 Other procedures for committee meetings\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 14\n(b) enters a meeting in contravention of a suspension under\nclause (5).\nPenalty: 10 penalty units.\n(7) An offence against clause (6) is a regulatory offence.\n27 Interruption of meetings by others\n(1) A person (other than a member) at a meeting must not:\n(a) behave in a disorderly manner; or\n(b) cause an interruption.\nPenalty: 5 penalty units\n(2) An offence against clause (1) is a regulatory offence.\n28 Removal of persons from meetings\n(1) A person (other than a member) who interrupts the orderly conduct\nof a meeting must, on being requested to do so by the chairman,\nimmediately leave the place where the meeting is being held.\nPenalty: 10 penalty units\n(2) An offence against clause (1) is a regulatory offence.\n29 Public participation at meetings\nSubject to this by-law and by-laws 12 and 13, a member of the\npublic must not take part, or attempt to take part, in the proceeding\nof a meeting of the council except at the invitation of the chairman.\nPart 3 Other procedures for committee meetings\n30 Calling committee meetings\n(1) The first ordinary meeting of a committee must be held at a time\nand place appointed by the clerk.\n(2) Other ordinary meetings of a committee must be held at the dates\nand at the times the council or the committee determines by\nresolution.\n(3) The clerk must, as soon as practicable before a meeting of the\ncommittee or within such other time as the committee determines\nby resolution, give notice of the meeting.\n\nPart 3 Other procedures for committee meetings\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 15\n(4) Meetings of a committee cannot be held on a Sunday or a public\nholiday.\n(5) If requested by the chairman or 3 other members of a committee,\nthe clerk must call a special meeting of the committee.\n(6) Notice of a special meeting of a committee must:\n(a) be given to all members of the committee at least 4 hours\nbefore the scheduled commencement of the meeting; and\n(b) set out the business to be transacted at the meeting.\n31 Chairman of standing committee\n(1) At the first meeting of a standing committee after the conclusion of\na general election, the members of the committee must appoint a\nchairman from their number.\n(2) If the office of chairman of a standing committee becomes vacant,\nthe committee must appoint a new chairman.\n32 Chairing meetings\n(1) The chairman of a committee must preside at all meetings of the\ncommittee at which he or she is present.\n(2) If the chairman is absent from a meeting, a member of the\ncommittee appointed by a majority of the members present at the\nmeeting must preside.\n33 Committee meetings open except as prescribed\nCommittee meetings must be open to the public except where a\nmatter classified by regulations under the Act as confidential\nbusiness for the purposes of meetings of the council is being\nconsidered or voted on.\n34 Standing committees may appoint subcommittees\n(1) A standing committee may establish subcommittees of its\nmembers.\n(2) A resolution establishing a subcommittee must:\n(a) specify the purpose for which the subcommittee is established\nand, if appropriate, specify a time by which a final report or\nrecommendation must be made to the standing committee by\nthe subcommittee; and\n\nPart 4 Repeal\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 16\n(b) give any direction that the standing committee considers\nnecessary in relation to the convening and conduct of a\nmeeting of the subcommittee.\n35 Reports to council by committees\n(1) A report to the council by a committee must be presented at a\nmeeting of the council by:\n(a) the chairman of the committee; or\n(b) in the chairman's absence – another member of the\ncommittee as determined by the chairman of the meeting.\n(2) If more than one recommendation is made by a committee in a\nreport to the council, the decision of the council on each\nrecommendation may be taken separately.\n36 Power to determine procedures\nExcept as provided by these By-laws or as the council determines\nby resolution, the procedures for meetings of a committee may be\ndetermined by the committee by resolution.\nPart 4 Repeal\n37 Repeal\nThe Palmerston (Council Meetings and Procedures) By-laws\n(Regulations 1991, No. 37) are repealed.\n\nENDNOTES\nPalmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By-laws 2003 17\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY\nKey to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nPalmerston (Procedure for Meetings) By-laws (SL No. 59, 2003)\nNotified 7 January 2004\nCommenced 7 January 2004\nLocal Government (Consequential Amendments) Act 2008 (Act No. 28, 2008)\nAssent date 14 November 2008\nCommenced 1 July 2008 (s 2)\n3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22 of 2018) to: bl 1.\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\nbl 33 amd Act No. 28, 2008, s 4","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The 2003 by‑laws expressly repeal the earlier Palmerston (Council Meetings and Procedures) By‑laws (by‑law 37), replacing prior meeting procedures. The endnotes record a later amendment to by‑law 33 (Act No. 28, 2008 s 4) affecting the circumstances in which committee meetings may be closed to the public. Together these indicate the instrument’s scope and public‑access rules have been modified since the original instrument."},"complexity_factors":["Number of procedural rules governing distinct stages of meetings (scheduling, quorum, minutes, business paper, motions, voting) — multiple cross‑references increase careful reading (by‑laws 4–19).","Defined terms and timing rules (eg. 'clear days' calculation affects notices and questions) require precise calendar computation (by‑law 3(2); by‑laws 11(2), 13(1), 14(2)).","Chairman’s discretion to admit/declare questions, accept or refuse motions and terminate deputations concentrates decision‑making and requires guidance (by‑laws 9; 11(7); 13(3); 14(8),(9)).","Special procedural devices and limits (formal motions, limits on speaking, amendment limits, $1,000 cap on no‑notice spending) create multiple conditional paths in debate (by‑laws 14(13)–(19); 15; 17(1); 14(8)).","Sanctions and enforcement appear as regulatory offences with specified penalty units for public and member misconduct, adding legal/compliance exposure (by‑laws 12(4) penalty; 26(6) penalty; 27–28 penalties).","Committee rules (meeting times, openness except for matters classified confidential, ability to form subcommittees and report requirements) impose separate procedures and interface with confidentiality rules under the Act (by‑laws 30–36; 33).","A formal repeal and recorded amendment history signpost that scope/content have been altered since earlier by‑laws, so users must check amendments when applying rules (by‑law 37; endnote re bl 33 amd Act No. 28, 2008 s 4)."],"plain_english_summary":"Sets detailed rules for how Palmerston Council and its committees conduct meetings: scheduling, quorum and adjournment, agendas and minutes, how motions and amendments are moved and voted on, public participation, committee membership and subcommittees, and penalties for disorderly conduct. It applies to councillors, committee members, council officers and members of the public who attend or seek to address meetings. This matters because it fixes who decides, the notice and record‑keeping costs, limits on debate and spending motions, and points of discretion for the chair."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The by-laws appear to remain focused on their original purpose: governing procedural conduct at Palmerston council meetings. The split administrative responsibility (with Chapter 8 going to the Electoral Commission) is a structural feature rather than a scope change. No evidence of scope drift from the original intent."},"complexity_factors":["Split administrative responsibility between two agencies (Department of Housing, Local Government and Community Development and the NT Electoral Commission) adds a layer of structural complexity","Procedural rules for meetings can involve detailed sequencing requirements (order of business, amendment procedures, points of order) that require careful reading","Limited metadata provided — key details like gazette date, making date, and regulation number are absent, making it harder to verify currency or trace amendments","Local government by-laws sit within a broader legislative framework (NT local government legislation) which must be understood for full context"],"plain_english_summary":"The Palmerston (Procedures for Meetings) By‑Laws 2003 set the formal rules for how City of Palmerston council meetings are called, run and decided. They govern voting, quorums, motions, debate and related electoral matters, and apply to councillors, council staff, and members of the public who observe or participate.\n\nThey matter because they create an orderly, transparent and accountable process for local decision‑making, protecting fair debate and public oversight."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation appears consistent with its original purpose as procedural by-laws for council meetings. The 2008 amendment (by-law 33) updated the confidentiality provision to reference regulations under the new Local Government Act 2008, but this was a technical consequential amendment rather than a scope expansion. The by-laws remain focused on meeting procedures without significant mission creep into substantive council powers."},"complexity_factors":["37 by-laws across 4 Parts, with substantial procedural detail in Parts 2 and 3","11 defined terms in by-law 3(1), including recursive definitions ('committee' refers back to by-law 2(c))","Nested conditional logic in by-law 14 (motions without notice) with multiple exceptions: spending limit exception, then two sub-exceptions (committee recommendation or urgency)","Cross-references between by-laws (e.g., by-law 6 referenced in by-law 9; by-law 20(2) modifying by-law 17(1))","Detailed procedural rules for formal motions (by-law 14(15)) with 5 distinct variants each having specific effects","Time calculation rules in by-law 3(2) with dual exclusions (start/end days) and inclusion of weekends/holidays","Amendment restrictions in by-law 15 with conditional limits (only one further amendment if lost or carried)","Three penalty provisions (by-laws 12(4), 26(6), 27(1), 28(1)) creating regulatory offences with different penalty units (5 vs 10)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** These are the meeting rules (by-laws) for the Palmerston City Council in the Northern Territory. Think of them as the 'rulebook' for how council meetings must run — covering everything from how agendas are prepared to how councillors can speak, vote, and even how the public can participate.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Elected councillors** — must follow these rules when attending and speaking at meetings\n- **Council staff (the clerk)** — responsible for preparing papers, giving notices, and recording minutes\n- **Committee members** — standing committees and other council committees must follow these procedures\n- **The public** — anyone wanting to petition the council, attend as a deputation (a group presenting views), or observe meetings\n\n**Key things it does:**\n- **Sets meeting schedules** — ordinary meetings must happen monthly, with specific notice requirements\n- **Controls how business is brought forward** — most motions need 5 days' written notice; spending over $1,000 generally needs notice unless urgent\n- **Manages public input** — rules for petitions (must be legible, whole petition on each page), deputations (apply 7 days ahead, max 2 speakers unless council agrees otherwise), and when the public can attend\n- **Sets speaking rules** — 5-minute time limits, members must stand when speaking (unless disabled), no personal attacks, must use official titles\n- **Voting procedures** — show of hands first, then formal 'division' (standing/sitting count) if requested, with names recorded\n- **Maintains order** — chairman can eject disruptive people, members can be suspended for disorderly conduct, points of order take precedence\n- **Formal motions** — special shortcut motions to speed things up (move to next business, put the question now, adjourn, etc.)\n\n**Why it matters:** These rules ensure council meetings are fair, transparent, and orderly. They protect minority rights (through notice requirements and speaking rules) while allowing efficient decision-making. The penalties (up to 10 penalty units) for disrupting meetings or forging petition signatures show these are legally enforceable, not just gentle suggestions."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/palmerston-procedures-for-meetings-by-laws-2003","history":"/api/acts/palmerston-procedures-for-meetings-by-laws-2003/history","analysis":"/api/acts/palmerston-procedures-for-meetings-by-laws-2003/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/palmerston-procedures-for-meetings-by-laws-2003/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/palmerston-procedures-for-meetings-by-laws-2003/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/palmerston-procedures-for-meetings-by-laws-2003/documents"}}