What can I speak on at a Council meeting?
Members of the public who have an interest in an open item on the advertised agenda can register to speak.
Requests must be provided to our Governance team before 12 noon on the day of the council meeting. Current options of participation, either virtually or in-person will be discussed with you upon registration.
The Governance team is here to help you and can be contacted via email egovernance@latrobe.vic.gov.au or on 1300 367 700.
The person registering to attend must provide their name, address, contact number, who they represent (and must also provide written approval to do so) and the item they wish to speak on. The person acknowledges that consent is automatically given to being recorded (if the meeting is to be streamed) and notes that the video will be available on the live stream. They also must acknowledge they agree to behave in a courteous and respectful manner. Failure to do so may cause the removal of any person in accordance with the Local Law 1.
Council accepts no liability for any defamatory, discriminatory or offensive remarks or gestures made during the meeting. Opinions expressed or statements made by participants are the opinions or statements of those individuals and do not imply any form of endorsement by Council.
Where a person wishes for another person to speak on their behalf, they must provide written approval to do so (either in their written submission for any submission being heard under Section 223 of the Local Government Act 1989 or under separate advice to Council prior to the meeting).
The Mayor has the discretion to limit the full time of any one speaking to a maximum of three minutes, regardless of how many persons (or organisations) they are speaking on behalf of.
Organisations are required to select one spokesperson to address Council on their behalf. If an organisation wishes to select more than one spokesperson, it may do so if its request is granted by the Mayor/Chair prior to the commencement of the meeting.
Speaking at Council meeting opportunities is not to be used to present petitions, letters or ask questions (these can be done through alternative mechanisms available).
Any person addressing the Chair must refer to the Chair as:
- Madam Mayor; or
- Mr Mayor; or
- Madam Chair; or
- Mr Chair
as the case may be.
All Councillors, other than the Mayor, must be addressed as Councillor (name).
All members of staff in attendance must be addressed as Mr or Ms (name) as appropriate or by their official title.