Standing Orders

These standing orders are based on the model provided by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) in 2018. NALC model standing orders incorporate and reference many statutory requirements to which councils are subject. Standing orders that are in bold type contain legal and statutory requirements.

A PDF version is available at the end of the page.

1. RULES OF DEBATE AT MEETINGS

a. Motions on the agenda shall be considered in the order that they appear unless the order is changed at the discretion of the chairman of the meeting.

b. A motion (including an amendment) shall not be progressed unless it has been moved and seconded.

c. A motion on the agenda that is not moved by its proposer may be treated by the chairman of the meeting as withdrawn.

d. If a motion (including an amendment) has been seconded, it may be withdrawn by the proposer only with the consent of the seconder and the meeting.

e. An amendment is a proposal to remove or add words to a motion. It shall not negate the motion.

f. If an amendment to the original motion is carried, the original motion (as amended) becomes the substantive motion upon which further amendment(s) may be moved.

g. An amendment shall not be considered unless early verbal notice of it is given at the meeting and, if requested by the chairman of the meeting, is expressed in writing to the chairman.

h. A councillor may move an amendment to his own motion if agreed by the meeting. If a motion has already been seconded, the amendment shall be with the consent of the seconder and the meeting.

i. If there is more than one amendment to an original or substantive motion, the amendments shall be moved in the order directed by the chairman of the meeting.