Dear all, At its last call ( 14 April 2016), Council discussed the need for openness and transparency of face-to face meetings. At the meeting it was decided to defer decision to an email decision. Included is background section and draft resolution. Following the usual email decision procedure, could you be so kind to express your support, objection(s) to adopt the draft resolution or raise questions if you have any regarding the decision/resolution by 29 April 2016, 13.00 UTC. Thank you and kind regards, Bart Draft Decision Background Transparency requires that, ICANN¹s constituent bodies operate in an open and transparent manner. This does not only imply that recordings, transcripts of meetings, if made, and notes and minutes are made publicly available after meetings, but also that face-to-face meetings are open to observers, and will be listed as such. However, some matters do justify confidentiality and excluding the public, such as (example list): · Employment matters · Discussion on persons · Contractual matters · Any proceedings of the Ombudsman · Consideration of any legal advice that would involve a risk of waiver of privilege if the meeting were not closed · Any item where there has been a request to deal with it in confidence and where that request is granted Further, it is self-evident that for meetings of Council, WGs, Committees, only appointed members or others, listed as liaisons or other form of formal participant may actively contribute, but the presumption has to be, that all meetings, including Council prep, WG meetings, have to be open to observers i.e. to people who want to listen to and watch the proceedings of the meeting in real time, without participating. Draft Resolution 1. All face-to face ccNSO, ccNSO Council or ccNSO chartered Working group meetings shall be open to observers, unless a majority of the voting members present at the meeting resolve to close the meeting due to the confidential nature of the topic being dealt with. If so, that part of the meeting shall only be closed to observers for the duration of the deliberations of the confidential item. 2. The ccNSO Guideline Review Committee is requested to update the relevant Guidelines accordingly, and submit them to Council for adoption. 3. The chair of the Council is requested to inform the chairs of the ccNSO chartered WG’s of this Council decision.