Extract:

Key messages

The Rural Advisory Panel (panel) has been productive through its eleven meetings held throughout the 2022-25 electoral term. The panel received a wide range of updates on council group activities, including opportunities to discuss important considerations for the rural sector.

The panel were able to offer their insights to council staff and other panel members such that several initiatives were better informed. Panel members and council staff are supportive of a desire to workshop and further discuss out of cycle meeting opportunities to address topical issues as they arise. This outcome is consistent with the direction provided in reviewing how all panels should operate as articulated in a governing body report of 15 December 2022.

Some engagement between sector representatives and staff from council departments already occurs outside of the panel environment, but not specifically with the panel as often as desired. The desire to enable more collaborative panel discussions or workshops is pertinent given the nature and extent of central government reforms affecting the rural sector and council activities more generally.

Purpose

This report summarises the panel's activities over the 2022-25 electoral term and provide some reflections for future strategic focus and ways of working, should the Panel be re-constituted for the 2025-28 electoral term. ...

Rural Advisory Panel, September 2025