What is one way a council can exclude the press and public from meetings or parts of meetings?

A council has the authority to structure its meetings to include both public and private components. This means that certain topics or discussions can be held in a confidential setting, which serves to protect sensitive information or deliberations that should not be disclosed to the general public or the press. By designating parts of the meeting as private, the council effectively manages what information is accessible to outside parties, adhering to legal frameworks that often stipulate specific circumstances under which such exclusion can take place.

This approach allows councils to conduct their business with discretion when necessary—such as discussing personnel matters, legal issues, or other sensitive topics that could impact the council's operations or the privacy of individuals involved. Thus, the decision to separate meetings into public and private segments is a structured and commonly accepted method for excluding the press and the public when appropriate.

In contrast, notifying the press in advance, allowing only the mayor to make exclusion decisions, or changing the location of public meetings does not directly create the necessary conditions for restricting access to certain discussions or decisions.