3416GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 8 August 2016

3416 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 8 August 2016 (3) A person observing a meeting shall not 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. (4) A person shall ensure that his or her mobile telephone or audible pager is not audible or used during any meeting of the Council. (5) The presiding member may expel a person from the meeting by ordering the person to leave the meeting room, if— (a) after being warned, the person again acts contrary to this clause, or to this local law; or (b) a person refuses or fails to comply with a direction of the presiding member. (6) A person who is ordered to leave the meeting room and fails to do so may by order of the presiding member, be removed from the meeting room, and if the presiding member orders, from the premises. (7) A person in breach of this clause is subject to the penalties specified in clause 19.1. PART 7—QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS 7.1 Questions by members (1) Members may ask questions relating to an item on the notice paper or on matters related to the good government of persons in the district. (2) A member requesting general information from an officer at a Council meeting may ask a question without notice and with the consent of the presiding member, may ask one or more further questions of that officer or another officer present at the meeting. (3) Where possible the officer shall endeavour to answer the question to the best of his or her knowledge and ability, however, if the information is unavailable or the answer requires research or investigation, the officer may ask that— (a) the question be placed on notice for the next meeting of Council; and (b) the answer to the question be given to the member who asked it within 14 days. (4) Every question and answer— (a) is to be brief and concise; and (b) is not to be accompanied by argument, expression of opinion or statement of facts, except to the extent necessary to explain the question or answer. (5) In answering any question, an officer may qualify his or her answer and may at a later time in the meeting or at a subsequent meeting alter, correct, add to or otherwise amend the original answer. PART 8—CONDUCT OF MEMBERS 8.1 Members to be in their proper places (1) At the first meeting held after each election day, Council will, by consensus, determine a position at the Council table for each member. (2) Each member is to occupy his or her allotted position at each Council meeting. 8.2 Official titles to be used A speaker, when referring to the President, Deputy President or presiding member, or a member or officer, is to use the title of that person’s office. 8.3 Entering or leaving a meeting (1) During the course of a meeting of the Council, a member is not to enter or leave the meeting without first advising the presiding member, in order to facilitate the recording in the minutes of the time of entry or departure, and ensuring a quorum is present in the meeting. (2) Where a member is leaving a meeting and does not intend to return, the member is to advise the presiding member of such prior to departing. 8.4 Members to indicate their intention to speak A member of the Council who wishes to speak is to indicate his or her intention to speak by raising his or her hand or by another method agreed by the Council. 8.5 Priority of speaking (1) Where two or more members indicate, at the same time, their intention to speak, the presiding member is to decide which member is entitled to be heard first. (2) A decision of the presiding member under subclause (1) is not open to discussion or dissent. (3) A member is to cease speaking immediately after being asked to do so by the presiding member. 8.6 Presiding member may take part in debates The presiding member may take part in a discussion of any matter before the Council, subject to compliance with this local law. 8.7 Relevance (1) A member is to restrict his or her remarks to the motion or amendment under discussion, or to a personal explanation or point of order.