Deputations, Petitions and Public Question Time

In the interests of accuracy and to assist the administrative Staff please provide a dot point summary of the main points to be addressed.

Please note your address, email and phone will be kept confidential.

1. apply, before the meeting, to the CEO for approval; or
2. with the approval of the Presiding Member, at the meeting, address the Council.

1. approve the request and invite the deputation to attend a meeting of the Council; or
2. refer the request to the Council to decide by simple majority whether or not to receive the deputation.

1. is not to exceed 5 persons, only 2 of whom may address the Council, although others may respond to specific questions from Members;
2. is not to address the Council for a period exceeding 10 minutes without the agreement of the Council; and,
3. additional members of the deputation may be allowed to speak with the leave of the Presiding Member.
4. Any matter which is the subject of a deputation to the Council is not to be decided by the Council until the deputation has completed its presentation.

A person wishing to ask a question is requested to register their interest with the Shire’s administration prior to the commencement of the meeting.  Some questions may require prior research and the provision of the question before the meeting will assist in providing a comprehensive response.

1. A person must state name and address, be present in person and direct all questions to the presiding person.  A member of the public shall have two minutes to submit a question.
2. Each member of the public with a question is entitled to ask up to two (2) questions before other members of the public will be invited to ask their questions
3. Where a member of the public provides written questions, the Presiding Member may elect for the questions to be responded to as normal business correspondence.
4. Persons are permitted to preface a question with one or two introductory statements that establishes the context and basis for the question, provided these statements are relevant and kept brief.  In general, statements and other expressions of opinions will not be accepted.  An exception is where a person draws Council’s attention to an error of fact in the meeting agenda and/or an officer’s report.
5. The duration of public question time is 15 minutes, or less if all questions have been dealt with.  Any additional extension beyond 15 minutes is subject to a formal Council resolution approving an extension.
6. Written questions will be given priority, but verbal questions will be received at the meeting.

Question time is limited. Please keep question(s) relevant and succinct.  No comment is permitted or debate is to be entered into after a response has been provided.

A summary of all admissible questions submitted, and the responses provided, will be recorded in the minutes of the meeting, including the names of the questioners.

1. Be addressed to the Council
2. Be respectful and temperate in its language
3. Set out a concise statement of facts and the action sought
4. State the name, address and signature of all electors making the request, including date of signature
5. Set out the name and address of the petition initiator.

1. be addressed to the President;
2. be made by electors of the district;
3. state the request on each page of the petition;
4. contain the name, address and signature of each elector making the request, and the date each elector signed;
5. contain a summary of the reasons for the request; and
6. state the name of the person to whom, and an address at which, notice to the petitioners can be given.

Upon receiving a petition, the local government is to submit the petition to the relevant Officer to be included in his or her deliberations and report on the matter that is the subject of the petition, subject to subclause (3).

1. the matter is the subject of a report included in the agenda; and
2. the Council has considered the issues raised in the petition.