Changes to public participation at Council Meetings
Strathbogie Shire Council voted last night to implement a number of changes to its Division 6 Council's Meeting Procedures and Common Seal Local Law regarding Public Participation at Council meetings. This section outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Chairperson of the meeting and members of the public.
Mayor of Strathbogie Shire Council, Howard Myers said, "Council supports the inclusion in its Agenda for public participation as part of its "Public Question Time" segment, however, it has been considered necessary to implement a number of new procedures to ensure that questions which denigrate or defame Councilors, Council officers or community members and groups are excluded, and that Council resources are not inappropriately used."
The new procedures will also direct general enquiries or enquiries regarding operational matters to the responsible department Director for processing as general correspondence with responses to be provided in accordance with Council's customer service criteria.
Accordingly, the following principles are proposed to be applied:-
- Items that are determined by the Chairperson as a statement or are of an inappropriate nature will not be addressed
- Items that are determined by the Chairperson as a general enquiry or about operational matters which come within the day-to-day responsibility of Senior Managers will be addressed by the relevant officer after the meeting or may be taken on notice and processed as general correspondence
- Questions shall not include argument and shall not be derogatory, defamatory, indecent, abusive, objectionable or embarrassing to any Councillor, member of staff, ratepayer or member of the public
- Answers to questions shall be confined to the substance of the question asked and its relationship to matters of concern to the Council
Council will now give notice in accordance with section 119(2) of the Local Government Act 1989 of the proposal to revoke its Local Law No. 1 - Meeting Procedures and Common Seal (2002), and make a new Local Law No. 1 - Meeting Procedures and Common Seal (2009) and will call for submissions under section 223 of the Local Government Act 1989 in relation to the proposed amendment to its Local Law No. 1.
Public Participation
- Public Question Time will be specifically provided for in the Order of Business (Schedule 1).
- At every ordinary Meeting of the Council time may be allocated to enable any member of the community to address the Council at the discretion of the Chairperson.
- Sub-clause (2) does not apply where the Council has resolved to close the Meeting in respect of a matter under section 89(2) of the Act.
- The Chairperson will maintain order during Question Time as provided for under Clause L8.52(a) and (b).
- Persons asking questions shall do so through the Chairperson after stating their name.
- Public statements will not be accepted by the Chairperson as questions.
- Question Time will generally not exceed one half hour in duration.
- The Chairperson will have sole discretion regarding the total number of questions asked at any one meeting and the number of questions asked by any one person at any one meeting.
- Questions may be taken on notice at the discretion of the Chairperson or Chief Executive Officer.
- Items that are determined by the Chairperson as a statement or are of an inappropriate nature will not be addressed.
- Items that are determined by the Chairperson as a general enquiry or about operational matters which come within the day-to-day responsibility of Senior Managers will be addressed by the relevant officer after the meeting or may be taken on notice and processed as general correspondence.
- Questions shall not include argument and shall not be derogatory, defamatory, indecent, abusive, objectionable or embarrassing to any Councillor, member of staff, ratepayer or member of the public.
- Answers to questions shall be confined to the substance of the question asked and its relationship to matters of concern to the Council
For more information: Marli Kelly 0409 410 178