Members of the public can lodge questions for Council to answer or make a Comment or Submission prior to a specific item listed on the Agenda of an Ordinary Council meeting.
Please Note – Council meetings are currently being held virtually, are livestreamed and may be accessed from Council's website. In accordance with these changes introduced in response to COVID-19 Ordinary Council Meetings are closed to the public and persons wishing to submit a ‘Public Question’ or a ‘Submission’ to an item on an Ordinary Council Meeting agenda may do so online by 12.00 noon on the day of the meeting via the Question and Submissions form or by email Q&S@darebin.vic.gov.au. If you wish to ask your question or present your submission virtually please indicate this when it is submitted and Council Officers will contact you to arrange access to the virtual meeting at the appropriate time'
QUESTIONS
Members of the public may ask up to three (3) questions at an Ordinary Council meeting.
Questions submitted online will be responded to in the first instance. If you are not present at the meeting, the Chairperson will read the question and provide a response. The Chairperson may then take questions from members in the gallery, if the meeting is open to the public.
Any question not answered at the meeting will be taken on notice and a written response will be provided to the person asking the question.
In accordance with the Council Meeting Governance Rules (Meeting Procedure and Common Seal Local Law), the Chairperson may disallow a question if it:
- relates to a matter outside the duties, functions or powers of Council;
- is defamatory, indecent, abusive, offensive, irrelevant, trivial or objectionable in language or substance;
- may lead to a breach of Council’s statutory obligations;
- relates to a Notice of Motion, Petition or item of urgent business;
- deals with a subject matter already answered;
- was not received by the deadline (i.e. 12.00 noon on the day of the meeting);
- is aimed at embarrassing a Councillor or an Officer; or
- deals with a matter that should be, or has been, considered as a confidential matter or relates to any matter in respect of which Council may close the Meeting to the public under section 66 of the Act.
If you are unable to submit your question prior to the Ordinary Council meeting, the Chairperson may take questions from the floor.
COMMENTS OR SUBMISSIONS
Members of the public may make a comment or 2 minute submission on a matter listed on the Agenda prior to the item being debated.
A person who is unable to stay at the meeting until the Agenda item is heard, may make their comment or submission during Question Time.
HOW TO LODGE YOUR QUESTION OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT OR SUBMISSION
Members of the public who wish to ask a question, or make a comment or submission to an agenda item, at an Ordinary Council meeting are encouraged to do so in one of the following ways:
- Online via the Questions and Submissions form by 12.00 noon on the day of the Council meeting.
- By email to Q&S@darebin.vic.gov.au by 12.00 noon on the day of the Council meeting; or
- In person at the Preston Customer Service Centre, 274 Gower Street, Preston; or
- By mail to PO Box 91, Preston 3072; or
- With a Council officer prior to the commencement of the Council meeting.
The lodgement of a question or registration to make a comment or submission should include the name, address and contact telephone number of the individual. This will allow Council officers to follow up your question or submission, if required.
Alternatively, a member of the public may attend on the day of the meeting to ask their question or make submission to Council, if the Meeting is open to the public.
No member of the public can make a submission/comment to a Notice of Motion presented at a Council meeting.
Council meetings can be viewed online at the Watch Council and Planning Committee meetings page.
The Agenda for each meeting is available for viewing on Council's website at the Meeting Agendas and Minutes page by 5pm, up to 6 days prior to the date of the meeting. Copies are also available at Customer Service centres and libraries.