990GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 5 March 2021

990 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 5 March 2021 6.16 Recording of proceedings A person is not to use any electronic, visual or audio recording device or instrument to record the proceedings of the Council without the permission of the presiding member. 6.17 Prevention of disturbance (1) A reference in this clause to a person is to a person other than a member. (2) A person addressing the Council shall extend due courtesy and respect to the Council and the processes under which it operates and shall comply with any direction by the Presiding Member. (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 switched on or used during any meeting of the Council. (5) A person shall not behave in a manner that is contrary to section 75 of the Criminal Code. 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— (i) the question be placed on notice for the next meeting of Council; and (ii) the answer to the question be given to the member who asked it within 14 days. (4) Every question and answer— (i) is to be brief and concise; and (ii) 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, the CEO is to allot, alphabetically by ward, a position at the Council table to each Member. (2) Each Member is to occupy his or her allotted position at each Council meeting. 8.2 Respect to the Presiding Member After the business of a Council has been commenced, a Member is not to enter or leave the meeting without first paying due respect to the Presiding Member. 8.3 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. 8.4 Advice of entry or departure 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 or entry or departure. 8.5 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. 8.6 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. 8.7 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.