2019-10-14 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   14 OCTOBER 2019




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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                 14 OCTOBER 2019

  POLICY GUIDELINE - PUBLIC QUESTION TME

  4.    _Amaximum of two questions may be asked per person at each meeting.
 5:     Questions can only be submitted by Noosa Shire residents and/or ratepayers.
  6.    Questions (and associated background information) must be clear and unambiguous and not
        contain argument on the subject.
  7.    The Chairperson, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, may disallow a question
        which:
        7.1. is outside the duties, functions and powers of Council;
        7.2. is defamatory, indecent, abusive, offensive, irrelevant, trivial or objectionable in language
             or substance;
        7.3. deals with a subject matter already answered (at the same or any earlier meeting);
        7.4. relates to personnel matters;
        7.5. relates to a personal matter that is not applicable to the broader community;
        7.6. relates to contractual matters that are commercial in confidence;
        7.7. relates to legal advice or matters currently before a Court for resolution;
        7.8. relates to matters currently subject to an independent investigation, administrative action
             complaint or appeal process;
        7.9. relates to a matter that due to resources and. research implications will be better dealt
             with through the Right to Information processes;
        7.10. relates to the personal affairs or actions of Councillors or Council staff;
        7.11. is aimed or intended to embarrass Councillors or Council staff;
        7.12. relates to any other matter which Council considers would prejudice Council or any
             person.
  8.    Advice will be provided to the applicant prior to the meeting on whether the question meets the
        requirements of these guidelines.    That determination is to be made by the meeting
        Chairperson.
  9.    The applicant (or their proxy) must be present at the meeting for their question to be heard and
        shall follow the direction of the Chairperson.
  10.   The Chairperson will call each questioner to come forward and state their name, read their
        submitted background information and ask their question. Each questioner will be allocated 2
        minutes. Questions are to be directed through the Chairperson.
  11.   The Chairperson, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer (if required), will nominate a
        Councillor or Council staff member to answer the question at the meeting.
  12.   Where a meaningful response to the question cannot be provided at the meeting by the
        Chairperson, Councillors or staff, or a detailed or researched response is required, the question
        may be taken on notice, in which case an answer will be provided in writing to the questioner
        prior to the next Ordinary meeting. The question and a summary of the response will be
        recorded in the minutes of the next Ordinary meeting.
  13.   No debate or discussion is permitted on any question or answer.
  14.   The Chairperson will determine when a sufficient response to a question has been provided
        and may finalise an address where:
        14.1. the time period allowed has expired;
        14.2. the person uses insulting or offensive language or is derogatory towards Councillors or
             staff members; or
        14.3. a person other than the appointed speaker interjects or attempts to address the Council.

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