The council will meet only once a month and an hour earlier starting next year, with Cardinia Shire following a statewide trend to opt out of dedicated meetings for planning matters.
At Monday’s Annual Statutory Meeting, 24 November, the council unanimously supported a new schedule for 2026 that cuts the number of meetings by half.
Where the council currently meets around two times a month on an alternating schedule of general meetings and town planning meetings, the latter will now be integrated into the former next year.
The meetings will begin at 6pm instead of 7pm, as this year’s general meetings have often stretched well into the night.
Town planning meetings this year have involved smaller and smaller agendas, while the general council meetings have become longer, both changes aim to streamline council procedures.
“We had town planning meetings where there was sometimes one item. Some nights there were no items,” Cr Ross said.
“It was brought to our attention that many councils have the two of them together.”
Casey and Greater Dandenong once had town planning meetings, but have made similar changes recently.
A final town planning meeting will be held on Monday 1 December, as well as a general council meeting on Monday 15 December.
Both will begin at 7 pm.
The new changes will be in place for meetings in the new year.
