IT may be a new year, but there's still no room for members of the public to attend Bathurst Regional Council's meetings.
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The meetings, which will return from February 3, will remain closed to the public for the foreseeable future in response to COVID-19 restrictions.
Policy committee meetings are still off the agenda as well.
Council's acting general manager, Alan Cattermole, said these decisions were due to floor space in the chamber.
"Council continues to review its meeting protocols in line with the current NSW Public Health Order and at this stage there is no date set for the return of community members to the public gallery at council meetings," he said.
"Council currently cannot provide a COVID-safe environment for councillors, council staff and community members to attend, based on the floor area available in the council chambers."
Members of the public are able to follow meeting proceedings online through council's YouTube channel.
Livestreaming has been available for about 12 months now.
Mr Cattermole said the transition had gone "relatively smoothly" and people have been tuning in.
"The livestreamed council meetings are watched by members of the public at the time of the meeting, and there can often be 30 people logged into the livestream during a meeting," he said.
"They are also watched following the council meeting with the number of views often rising in the days after a meeting."
Although policy committee meetings have been unable to be held since early last year, he assured that this wasn't stopping business getting done.
"Councillors regularly attend working parties, and general business items have been added to the working party agendas, as they would normally be raised at policy," Mr Cattermole said.
"Councillors are also able to meet with senior staff to discuss issues or matters of concern."
