Public question time is an opportunity for members of the public to have questions answered at Council Meetings. Public Question Time is governed by Rule 39 of Council’s Governance Rules.
Check the schedule of when Council meets.
Please note: We are currently in the Election Period in the lead up to local government elections in late October.
Some questions may be held over until after the elections to ensure that Council is not seen to be publishing any electoral matter during the public question time.
Sections 60 and 304 of the Local Government Act 2020 (the Act) impose limitations on Council publications during the election period.
This is to ensure that Council does not publish material with public funds that may influence, or be seen to influence, voting in an election.
Submit a question
Questions must be in writing and submitted by 3pm on the day of the Ordinary Council meeting by either:
Questions submitted must include the person's full name as well as their address or email in order for a response to be provided.
A question will not be read and an answer to your question will only be provided if the question:
- does not relate to a matter beyond or outside Council's powers
- is not defamatory, indecent, abusive or questionable
- is not repetitive of a question, matter, issue or principle already answered (whether at that meeting or an earlier one)
- is not asked to be derogatory of or to embarrass a Councillor, a member of Council staff or a member of the community, and
- is not related to a matter already considered and resolved upon by Council.
Please note that questions submitted late will either:
- be dealt with at the next Ordinary Council Meeting, or
- be answered in writing at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer.
Things to remember
- please keep questions brief
- two questions per person are allowed
- the Chairperson has the discretion to decide that questions may be responded to either verbally at the meeting, or later in writing
- like questions may be grouped together and a single answer provided
- Sub-Rule 52.2 provides that community members/visitors must not interject or take part in the debate and must preserve silence in the gallery at all times
- Sub-Rule 39.11 of the Governance Rules provides that no debate on questions asked or answers given is permitted.
What happens next?
- your question will be read out at the next meeting
- the response to your question will also be read out
- a written response may only be provided if sufficient contact information is provided.
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