Guidelines for Participation at Council Meetings

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Guidelines for Public Participation at Council Meetings

 

Council continues to monitor Australian Government and NSW Health Orders relating to COVID-19 to ensure that our WHS obligations are met for staff and Councillors while also minimising risk to our community.

Consistent with directions for non-essential gatherings and meetings, Council meetings will be modified as follows: 

  • Meetings will be conducted remotely as a result of current COVID-19 restrictions. 
  • Members of the public will not be permitted to attend meetings
  • Any speaker wishing to address Council, will not be permitted to attend in person, however will be required to register in the usual manner
  • If a speaker would like to have a submission read aloud to the meeting, a written submission must be submitted via the online form Request to address Council by 12 noon on the day of the meeting
  • A Council staff member will read each submission to the meeting, identifying the name of the person who made the submission
  • Council meetings will continue to be webcast
  • A resident (individual or organisational) or their representative
  • A ratepayer (individual or organisational) or their representative
  • A representative of a local community organisation
  • A representative of a statutory authority
  • A non-judicial matter (ie, one pertaining to Council policy or performance), whether or not it is listed on the agenda – unless the speaker has already spoken on the same matter within the previous three months
    Note:     The excluded “judicial” matters are ones where the elected Council acts for the State in exercising adjudicatory powers eg, making determinations on building application and development application matters.
  • An application or matter before the Council for consideration and/or determination
  • A matter not deemed “confidential” – in accordance with NSW Local Government Act 1993
  • During this time of COVID-19, Hunters Hill Council policy is to allow public addresses to Council to be read by Council staff upon the Mayor’s prior approval.Please provide a statement which may be read at the Council meeting as your address. 

    Your statement should be limited to a three (3) minute address. 

 

  • One address per speaker per meeting which shall be limited to not more than three (3) minutes
  • One which is confined to making statements of fact – questions cannot be accommodated (unless by resolution of Council in accordance with Clause 7 of Code of Meeting Practice)
  • One that may be supported by whatever copies of printed information and images that the speaker can make available – use of audio-visual media cannot be accommodated
  • There is a limitation of two speakers for any one item, with one in support of the recommendation to the Council, and one speaker in opposition (Clause 13.2.(a) of Code of Meeting Practice); (this has been varied by resolution of the Council – to allow the Mayor to have the discretion to
    permit more than two speakers to address the Council on any one item. ).
  • During a period allocated at the beginning of the related item listed on the agenda or special permission by the Mayor.
  • By filling in online the Request to Address Council Meeting form.
  • By lodging a completed request form (including planned address) to the General Manager’s Office by 12.00 noon the day of the nominated meeting.
  • By receiving confirmation from the office of the General Manager that the Request will be accommodated at the nominated meeting – this is subject to scheduling and time limits.

Request permission to speak form

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Hunter’s Hill Council

22 Alexandra Street, Hunters Hill NSW 2110
PO Box 21, Hunters Hill NSW 2110
Tel: (02) 9879 9400

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