1036GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 22 April 2020

1036 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 22 April 2020 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 or a committee 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 or the committee. (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) Where a member of the public provides written questions then the presiding member may elect for the questions to be responded to as normal business correspondence. (6) The presiding member may decide that a public question must 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 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 reasonable steps to assist the member of the public to phrase the question in a manner that is not offensive or defamatory. (7) The presiding member may agree to extend public question time. (8) 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. (9) In this clause: ―relevant person‖ has the same meaning as in section 5.59 of the Act. 6.8 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 must be recorded in the minutes. 6.9 Deputations (1) Any person or group wishing to be received as a deputation by the Council or a committee, is to either— (a) apply, before the meeting, to the President for approval; or (b) with the approval of the presiding member, at the meeting, address the Council or a committee. (2) Any application for a deputation is to include details of the topic on which the deputation is to be made and a brief outline of the contents of the proposed submission which will be made during the deputation. (3) The President may either— (a) approve the request and invite the deputation to attend a meeting of the Council or committee; or (b) refer the request to the Council or the committee to decide by simple majority whether or not to receive the deputation. (4) Unless the Council or committee resolves otherwise, a deputation invited to attend a Council or committee meeting— (a) is not to exceed 5 persons, only 2 of whom may address the Council or a committee, although others may respond to specific questions from members; (b) is not to address the Council or a committee for a period exceeding 10 minutes without the agreement of the Council; and (c) an extension of time and the increase in number of speaking members of the deputation may be allowed with the leave of the presiding member. (5) Unless decided otherwise by the President or presiding member of a committee, the number of deputations approved for any meeting must not exceed four. (6) Any matter which is the subject of a deputation to the Council or a committee is not to be decided by the Council or the committee until the deputation has completed its presentation. 6.10 Petitions (1) Where a member or the CEO receives a petition conforming to the requirements of clause 6.10 (2), that petition is to be presented to the next Council meeting. (2) Except where required by the Act, the Regulations or any other written law, any petition to the Council— (a) must be addressed to the Council;