MOREE residents, ratepayers and business owners are encouraged to take part in an open public forum at the Moree Plains Shire council meeting on Thursday – with 30 minutes allocated for all speakers to voice their concerns, and only two speakers permitted to talk on each item of business on the agenda.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 2pm on Thursday, September 18.
The 30-minute timeframe may be extended by resolution of Council, according to a media statement on council’s website.
The media release says the open public forum provides an opportunity for community members to address Councillors on any issues or topics of interest or concern, relevant to the Moree Plains Shire.
However, terms and conditions of the open forum states “no more than two speakers are to be permitted to speak ‘for’ or ‘against’ each item of business on the agenda for the council meeting”. Council adopted a revised version of the Code of Meeting Practice at its last meeting.
Community members seeking to speak are encouraged to pre-register prior to the council meeting and provide information regarding their topic.
To register, contact Felicity Eden on 6757 3222 or email council@mpsc.nsw.gov.au by 5pm, Wednesday, September 17.
Members of the community are welcome to attend the public forum. However, if the number of attendees exceeds the maximum capacity of Council Chambers, members of the public will be asked to wait outside and be invited into the chamber to address Council.
Alternatively, community members are invited to provide a written submission for the Councillors’ consideration, which will be read out by general manager Natalia Cowley, and addressed by Councillors at the public forum.
To submit a statement to be addressed at the public forum, please provide the statement by email at council@mpsc.nsw.gov.au by 5pm, Wednesday, September 17.
When submitting a statement, community members are requested to provide a complete statement and note if they intend on addressing Councillors in person.
The Council recently adopted a revised version of the Code of Meeting Practice, with changes to the conduct of public forums:
1: Speakers must comply with Council’s Code of Meeting Practice (Public Forums) section 4, page 8;
2: If a speaker fails to observe a direction from the chairperson, the speaker will not be further heard;
3: No more than two speakers are to be permitted to speak ‘for’ or ‘against’ each item of business on the agenda for the council meeting.;
4: Each speaker is allowed three minutes to address the Council;
5: Speakers must not digress from the item on the agenda that they have applied to address the Council;
6: A Councillor may direct a question to a speaker, through the chairperson, and the time limit for the answer to a question is three minutes;
7: A speaker is under no obligation to answer a question put to them by a Councillor;
8: A speaker cannot ask questions of the Council, Councillors or Council staff;
9: Speakers must refrain from engaging in disorderly conduct, publicly alleging breaches of the Council’s Code of Conduct or making other potentially defamatory statements;
10: Legal representatives acting on behalf of others are not permitted to speak unless they identify their status as a legal representative when applying to speak; and
11: Written, visual or audio material presented in support of a speaker’s address to the Council will form part of the minutes of the meeting and a copy must be provided to Council.
The maximum time allocated to the public forum will be 30 minutes. However, this may be extended by resolution of Council.
Community members addressing the public forum in person or through a written submission should be mindful that they are providing permission for Council to include their details in the Minutes of the Council Meeting and the Council Meeting will be recorded.
The conduct of the forum will be in accordance with Council’s usual requirements, including the Moree Plains Shire Council Code of Meeting Practice, the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) and NSW Local Government (General) Regulations (2005).
To register, contact Felicity Eden on 6757 3222 or email council@mpsc.nsw.gov.au by 5pm, Wednesday, September 17.
Meeting details available HERE.
