17Closed meetings

17 Closed meetings

(1)  At a meeting, a council by absolute majority, or a council committee by simple majority, may close a part of the meeting to the public for a reason specified in subregulation (2) .

(2)  A part of a meeting may be a closed meeting when one or more of the following matters are being, or are to be, discussed at the meeting:

(a) personnel matters, including complaints against an employee of the council;

(b) industrial relations matters;

(c) information that, if disclosed, is likely to confer a commercial advantage or impose a commercial disadvantage on a person with whom the council is conducting, or proposes to conduct, business;

(d) commercial information of a confidential nature that, if disclosed, is likely to –

(i) prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied it; or

(ii) confer a commercial advantage on a competitor of the council; or

(iii) reveal a trade secret;

(e) contracts, and tenders, for the supply of goods and services and their terms, conditions, approval and renewal;

(f) the security of –

(i) the council, councillors and council staff; or

(ii) the property of the council;

(g) proposals for the council to acquire land or an interest in land or for the disposal of land;

(h) information that is –

(i) of a personal and confidential nature; or

(ii) provided to the council on the condition that it be kept confidential;

(i) requests by councillors for leave of absence;

(j) notifications by councillors of leave of absence for parental leave;

(k) matters relating to actual or possible litigation taken, or to be taken, by or involving the council or an employee of the council;