What must councils do to comply with the 1985 Act when making decisions?

To comply with the 1985 Act, councils must publish decisions on their website and at their offices. This is because the Act emphasizes the importance of transparency and accessibility in local government decision-making. By ensuring that decisions are published, councils provide the public with the opportunity to stay informed about the actions being taken on their behalf, promoting accountability and enabling public scrutiny.

This requirement helps to foster trust between the council and the community, as residents can easily access the information they need regarding local governance. It reflects the broader principle that government actions should be open and accessible to the public, thus enhancing civic engagement.

In terms of ensuring adherence to the 1985 Act, other options do not align as closely with the spirit and letter of the legislation. For example, keeping discussions confidential may limit public access to information about how decisions are made, while notifying the public of meetings in advance is important but does not directly relate to publishing decisions. Conducting votes in secrecy may be necessary in some contexts, but it goes against the principle of transparency required for public accountability regarding final decisions made by councils.