Part 8CONDUCT OF PERSONS AT COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS

PART 8—CONDUCT OF PERSONS AT COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS 8.1 Official Titles to be Used Members and employees of the Council are to speak of each other at Council meetings by their respective titles. 8.2 Leaving Meetings During the course of a meeting of the Council or a committee no member is to enter or leave the meeting without first indicating to the presiding member, in order to facilitate the recording in the minutes of the time of their entry or departure. 8.3 Adverse Reflection (1) No member of the Council is to reflect adversely during the meeting upon a decision of the Council, except on a motion that the decision be revoked or changed, unless the meeting resolves, without debate, that the matter before the meeting cannot otherwise be adequately considered. (2) No member of the Council is to use offensive or objectionable expressions in reference to any member, employee of the Council, or any other person. (3) If a member of the Council specifically requests, immediately after their use, that any particular words used by a member be recorded in the minutes, the presiding member is to cause the words used to be taken down and read to the meeting for verification and to then be recorded in the minutes.

4084 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 22 September 2016 8.4 Recording of Proceedings (1) No member of the public is to use any electronic, visual or vocal recording device or instrument to record the proceedings of the Council without the permission of the presiding member, or in the case where the majority of members then present at the meeting disagree, by the majority of those members. 8.5 Prevention of Disturbance (1) Any member of the public addressing the Council is to extend due courtesy and respect to the Council and the processes under which they operate and must take direction from the presiding member whenever called upon to do so. Penalty $1,000 (2) No person observing a meeting, is to create a disturbance at a meeting, by interrupting or interfering with the proceedings, whether by expressing approval or dissent, by conversing or by any other means. Penalty $1,000 8.6 Distinguished Visitors If a distinguished visitor is present at a meeting of the Council, the presiding member may invite such person to sit at the Council table. 8.7 Objectionable Business If the Mayor at any meeting of the Council is of the opinion, or a councillor draws to the Mayor’s attention, that any motion or business proposed to be made or transacted thereat is of an objectionable nature, the Mayor either before or after the same is brought forward may declare that the same shall not be entertained provided always that any member of the Council may move dissent from the declaration made from the Mayor, whereupon the motion to dissent shall forthwith be put without debate, and in the event of the same being carried by a majority of the members present the business referred to shall thereupon be entertained but not otherwise. 8.8 Use of Electronic Equipment in Meetings Electronic equipment provided for the use of elected members and officers in attendance at meetings is to be used only for the purposes associated with the business of the meeting. Mobile phones are to be switched off or to silent mode for the duration of the meeting and are not to be used during the meeting to distract attention away from the meeting. Should the presiding member become aware of any deviation from these requirements by members or officers in attendance, the presiding member may direct the person or persons responsible to immediately discontinue any non-compliant activity and immediately resume attention to the meeting proceedings.