664GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 23 March 2020

664 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 23 March 2020 6.5 Minimum question time for the public Minimum question time for the public is dealt with in the Regulations. 6.6 Procedures for question time for the public Procedures for question time for the public are dealt with in the Regulations. 6.7 Other procedures for question time for the public (1) A member of the public who raises a question during question time, is to state his or her name and address. (2) A question may be taken on notice by the Council for later response. (3) When a question is taken on notice the CEO is to ensure that— (a) a response is given to the member of the public in writing; and (b) a summary of the response is included in the agenda of the next meeting of the Council. (4) Where a question relating to a matter in which a relevant person has an interest is directed to the relevant person, the relevant person is to— (a) declare that he or she has an interest in the matter; and (b) allow another person to respond to the question. (5) Each member of the public with a question is entitled to ask up to two (2) questions before other members of the public will be invited to ask their questions. (6) Questions to be considered by Council are to be respectful and temperate in language. (7) The presiding member may decide that a public question shall not be responded to where— (a) the same or similar question was asked at a previous meeting, a response was provided and the member of the public is directed to the minutes of the meeting at which the response was provided; (b) the member of the public uses public question time to make a statement, provided that the presiding member has taken all reasonable steps to assist the member of the public to phrase the statement as a question; or (c) the member of the public asks a question that is offensive or defamatory in nature, provided that the presiding member has taken all reasonable steps to assist the member of the public to phrase the question in a manner that is not offensive or defamatory. (8) A member of the public shall have two (2) minutes to submit a question. (9) The Council, by resolution, may agree to extend public question time. (10) Where an answer to a question is given at a meeting, a summary of the question and the answer is to be included in the minutes. 6.8 Statements by members of the public (1) Each person wishing to make a statement to the Council on items listed on the agenda, will be invited by the presiding member to do so, stating their name and address, and to which item(s) listed on the agenda. (2) The presiding member may rule that the subject matter does not relate to the current agenda, and that the statement not be heard. (3) The presiding member will determine the order of speakers to address the Council. (4) The public statement session will be restricted to 15 minutes unless the Council, by resolution, decides otherwise. (5) Each person is restricted to one (1) statement of up to two (2) minutes unless the Council, by decision, determines that they may speak for no more than a further two (2) minutes. (6) Statements to be considered by Council are to be respectful and temperate in language. (7) The presiding member may suspend or adjourn the statement session, at any time, and any person addressing the Council will resume their seat when called upon to do so by the presiding member. (8) The presiding member shall suspend the public address session if the person making the statement resorts to personal denigration of any person or persons. (9) The presiding member may— (a) comment on the statement given; or (b) call upon a Councillor or Officer to comment. (10) The Councillor or Officer may decline to comment. (11) If the subject matter of the statement has not been considered by the Council, no substantive comment shall be offered. (12) Any comments shall not exceed three (3) minutes. (13) Any breach of the Council Meeting Procedures Local Law 2020 may result in the person being prohibited from addressing the meeting at which the breach occurs. 6.9 Distinguished visitors If a distinguished visitor is present at a meeting of the Council, the presiding member may acknowledge the presence of the distinguished visitor at an appropriate time during the meeting, and the presence of that visitor shall be recorded in the minutes.