Western Metropolitan Regional Council Local Government (Council Meetings) Local Law 2019
!2019150GG! 3693 ISSN 1448-949X (print) ISSN 2204-4264 (online) PRINT POST APPROVED PP665002/00041 PERTH, FRIDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2019 No. 150 SPECIAL PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY KEVIN J. McRAE, GOVERNMENT PRINTER AT 12.30 PM © STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA WESTERN AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1995
WESTERN METROPOLITAN REGIONAL COUNCIL ——————————— LOCAL GOVERNMENT (COUNCIL MEETINGS) LOCAL LAW 2019
18 October 2019 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3695 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1995 WESTERN METROPOLITAN REGIONAL COUNCIL LOCAL GOVERNMENT (COUNCIL MEETINGS) LOCAL LAW 2019 ARRANGEMENT Table of Contents PART 1—PRELIMINARY 1.1 Citation 1.2 Commencement 1.3 Application and intent 1.4 Interpretation 1.5 Deputy members 1.6 Provisions of the Act, Regulations and other legislation PART 2—ESTABLISHMENT AND MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES 2.1 Establishment of committees 2.2 Types of committees 2.3 Delegation of some powers and duties to certain committees 2.4 Limits on delegation of powers and duties to certain committees 2.5 Appointment of committee members 2.6 Appointment of deputies 2.7 Tenure of committee membership 2.8 Resignation of committee members 2.9 Register of delegations to committees 2.10 Committees to report PART 3—CALLING AND CONVENING MEETINGS 3.1 Ordinary and special Council meetings 3.2 Calling Council meetings 3.3 Convening Council meetings 3.4 Calling committee meetings 3.5 Public notice of meetings PART 4—PRESIDING MEMBER AND QUORUM Division 1—Who presides 4.1 Who presides 4.2 When the Deputy Chairman can act 4.3 Who acts if no Chairman 4.4 Election of Presiding Members of committees 4.5 Election of Deputy Presiding Members of committees 4.6 Functions of Deputy Presiding Members 4.7 Who acts if no Presiding Member Division 2—Quorum 4.8 Quorum for meetings 4.9 Reduction of quorum for Council meetings 4.10 Reduction of quorum for committee meetings 4.11 Procedure where no quorum to begin a meeting 4.12 Procedure where quorum not present during a meeting 4.13 Names to be recorded
3696 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 18 October 2019 PART 5—BUSINESS OF A MEETING 5.1 Business to be specified 5.2 Order of business 5.3 Motions of which previous notice has been given 5.4 New business of an urgent nature 5.5 Adoption by exception resolution PART 6—PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 6.1 Meetings generally open to the public 6.2 Meetings not open to the public 6.3 Question time for the public 6.4 Question time for the public at certain meetings 6.5 Minimum question time for the public 6.6 Procedures for question time for the public 6.7 Other procedures for question time for the public 6.8 Distinguished visitors 6.9 Deputations 6.10 Petitions 6.11 Presentations 6.12 Participation at committee meetings 6.13 Council may meet to hear public submissions 6.14 Public Inspection of agenda materials 6.15 Confidentiality of information withheld 6.16 Recording of proceedings 6.17 Prevention of disturbance PART 7—QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS 7.1 Questions by Members PART 8—CONDUCT OF MEMBERS 8.1 Members to be in their proper places 8.2 Respect to the Presiding Member 8.3 Titles to be used 8.4 Advice of entry or departure 8.5 Members to indicate their intention to speak 8.6 Priority of speaking 8.7 Presiding Member may take part in debates 8.8 Relevance 8.9 Speaking twice 8.10 Duration of speeches 8.11 No speaking after conclusion of debate 8.12 No interruption 8.13 Personal explanations 8.14 No reopening of discussion 8.15 Adverse reflection 8.16 Withdrawal of offensive language PART 9—PRESERVING ORDER 9.1 Presiding Member to preserve order 9.2 Point of order 9.3 Procedures on a point of order 9.4 Calling attention to breach 9.5 Ruling by the Presiding Member 9.6 Continued breach of order 9.7 Right of Presiding Member to adjourn PART 10—DEBATE OF SUBSTANTIVE MOTIONS 10.1 Motions to be stated and in writing 10.2 Motions to be supported 10.3 Unopposed business 10.4 Only one substantive motion at a time 10.5 Order of call in debate 10.6 Limit of debate 10.7 Member may require question to be read 10.8 Consent of seconder required for alteration 10.9 Order of amendments 10.10 Form of an amendment 10.11 Amendment must not negate original motion 10.12 Relevance of amendments 10.13 Mover of motion may speak on amendment 10.14 Effect of an amendment 10.15 Withdrawal of motion or amendment 10.16 Right of reply
18 October 2019 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3697 PART 11—PROCEDURAL MOTIONS 11.1 Permissible procedural motions 11.2 No debate 11.3 Who may move 11.4 Procedural motions—right of reply on substantive motion 11.5 Meeting to proceed to the next business 11.6 Debate to be adjourned 11.7 Meeting now adjourn 11.8 Question to be put 11.9 Member to be no longer heard 11.10 Ruling of the Presiding Member to be disagreed with PART 12—DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS 12.1 Disclosure of interests PART 13—VOTING 13.1 Question—when put 13.2 Voting 13.3 Majorities required for decisions 13.4 Method of taking vote PART 14—MINUTES OF MEETINGS 14.1 Keeping of minutes 14.2 Content of minutes 14.3 Public inspection of unconfirmed minutes 14.4 Confirmation of minutes PART 15—ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING 15.1 Meeting may be adjourned 15.2 Effect of adjournment PART 16—REVOKING OR CHANGING DECISIONS 16.1 Requirements to revoke or change decisions 16.2 Limitations on powers to revoke or change decisions 16.3 Implementing a decision PART 17—SUSPENSION OF LOCAL LAWS 17.1 Suspension of Local Laws 17.2 Where Local Laws do not apply PART 18—ENFORCEMENT 18.1 Penalty for breach 18.2 Who can prosecute
18 October 2019 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3699 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1995 WESTERN METROPOLITAN REGIONAL COUNCIL LOCAL GOVERNMENT (COUNCIL MEETINGS) LOCAL LAW 2019 Under the powers conferred by the Local Government Act 1995 and under all other relevant powers, the Western Metropolitan Regional Council resolved on 3 October 2019 to make the following local law. PART 1—PRELIMINARY 1.1 Citation This local law may be cited as the Western Metropolitan Regional Council Local Government (Council Meetings) Local Law 2019. 1.2 Commencement By virtue of section 3.14 of the Act, these Local Laws come into operation 14 days after the date of their publication in the Government Gazette. 1.3 Application and intent (1) These Local Laws provide rules and guidelines that apply to the conduct of meetings of the Council and its committees. (2) All meetings are to be conducted in accordance with the Act, the Regulations and this Local Law. (3) This Local Law is intended to result in— (a) better decision-making by the Council and committees; (b) orderly conduct of meetings dealing with Council business; (c) better understanding of the process of conducting meetings; and (d) the more efficient and effective use of time at meetings. 1.4 Interpretation (1) In this Local Law, unless the context otherwise requires— absolute majority has the meaning given to it in the Act; 75% majority has the meaning given to it in the Act; Act means the Local Government Act 1995; CEO means the Chief Executive Officer of the Western Metropolitan Regional Council; Chairman means the Chairman of the Western Metropolitan Regional Council or other Presiding Member at a Council meeting under section 5.6 of the Act; committee means a committee of the Council established under section 5.8 of the Act; committee meeting means a meeting of a committee; Council means the Council of the Western Metropolitan Regional Council; district has the meaning given to it in the Act; Establishment Agreement means the establishment agreement entered into by the Participants in or about March 2000; meeting means a meeting of the Council or a committee, as the context requires; Member has the meaning given to it in the Act; Participant means a party to the Establishment Agreement; Presiding Member means— (a) in respect of the Council, the person presiding under section 5.6 of the Act; and (b) in respect of a committee, the person presiding under sections 5.12, 5.13, and 5.14 of the Act; Regulations means the Local Government (Administration) Regulations 1996; simple majority means more than 50% of the members present and voting; and substantive motion means an original motion or an original motion as amended, but does not include an amendment or a procedural motion.
3700 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 18 October 2019 (2) Unless otherwise defined in these Local Laws, the terms and expressions used in these Local Laws are to have the meaning given to them in the Act and Regulations. 1.5 Deputy members (1) If a member is unable to attend a meeting or part of a meeting, a deputy member may attend in place of that member provided that— (a) the deputy member has been appointed by the Participant which appointed the absent member; and (b) the deputy member has made a declaration in the prescribed form (under section 2.29 of the Act) before acting in the office. (2) While attending a meeting in place of a member, a deputy member has all the powers of that member. 1.6 Provisions of the Act, Regulations and other legislation (1) Throughout these Local Laws, provisions of the Act and Regulations, and provisions of other legislation, are reproduced in a boxed format. (2) The purpose of reproducing these provisions is to assist the reader by giving a fuller picture of related legislative provisions that also apply to meetings of the Council, committees and electors. (3) The reproduced provisions of the Act and Regulations and other legislation— (a) are to be treated as footnotes and are not part of these Local Laws (see section 32(2) of the Interpretation Act 1984); and (b) reproduce only the provisions that were in force at the time that the Council resolved to adopt these Local Laws and therefore may not necessarily be correct at a future date. PART 2—ESTABLISHMENT AND MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES 2.1 Establishment of committees (1) The establishment of committees is dealt with in the Act. (2) A Council resolution to establish a committee under section 5.8 of the Act is to include— (a) the terms of reference of the committee; (b) the number of council members, officers and other persons to be appointed to the committee; (c) the names or titles of the council members and officers to be appointed to the committee; (d) the names of other persons to be appointed to the committee or an explanation of the procedure to be followed to determine the appointments; and (e) details of the delegation of any powers or duties to the committee under section 5.16 of the Act. (3) These Local Laws are to apply to the conduct of committee meetings. 2.2 Types of committees The types of committees are dealt with in the Act. 2.3 Delegation of some powers and duties to certain committees The delegation of some powers and duties to certain committees is dealt with in the Act. 2.4 Limits on delegation of powers and duties to certain committees The limits on the delegation of powers and duties to certain committees are dealt with in the Act. 2.5 Appointment of committee members The appointment of committee members is dealt with in the Act. 2.6 Appointment of deputies The appointment of a person to be a deputy of a member of committee is dealt with in the Act. 2.7 Tenure of committee membership Tenure of committee membership is dealt with in the Act. 2.8 Resignation of committee members The resignation of committee members is dealt with in the Regulations. 2.9 Register of delegations to committees The register of delegations to committees is dealt with in the Act. 2.10 Committees to report A committee— (a) is answerable to the Council; and (b) is to report on its activities when, and to the extent, required by the Council. PART 3—CALLING AND CONVENING MEETINGS 3.1 Ordinary and special Council meetings (1) Ordinary and special Council meetings are dealt with in the Act.
18 October 2019 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3701 (2) An ordinary meeting of the Council, held every two months or otherwise as determined by the Council, is for the purpose of considering and dealing with the ordinary business of the Council. (3) A special meeting of the Council is held for the purpose of considering and dealing with Council business that is urgent, complex in nature, for a particular purpose or confidential. 3.2 Calling Council meetings The calling of Council meetings is dealt with in the Act. 3.3 Convening Council meetings (1) The convening of a Council meeting is dealt with in the Act. (2) Subject to subclause (3), the CEO is to give at least 72 hours’ notice, for the purposes of section 5.5, in convening a special meeting of the Council. (3) Where, in the opinion of the Chairman or at least one-third of the Members, there is a need to meet urgently, the CEO may give a lesser period of notice of a special Council meeting. 3.4 Calling committee meetings The CEO is to call a meeting of any committee when requested by the Chairman, the Presiding Member of a committee or any two members of that committee. 3.5 Public notice of meetings Public notice of meetings is dealt with in the Regulations. PART 4—PRESIDING MEMBER AND QUORUM Division 1—Who presides 4.1 Who presides Who presides at a Council meeting is dealt with in the Act. 4.2 When the Deputy Chairman can act When the Deputy Mayor/Deputy President can act is dealt with in the Act. 4.3 Who acts if no Chairman Who acts if there is no Chairman is dealt with in the Act. 4.4 Election of Presiding Members of committees The election of Presiding Members of committees and their deputies is dealt with in the Act. 4.5 Election of Deputy Presiding Members of committees The election of Deputy Presiding Members of committees is dealt with in the Act. 4.6 Functions of Deputy Presiding Members The functions of Deputy Presiding Members are dealt with in the Act. 4.7 Who acts if no Presiding Member Who acts if no Presiding Member is dealt with in the Act. Division 2—Quorum 4.8 Quorum for meetings The quorum for meetings is dealt with in the Act. 4.9 Reduction of quorum for Council meetings The power of the Minister to reduce the number for a quorum and certain majorities is dealt with in the Act. 4.10 Reduction of quorum for committee meetings The reduction of a quorum for committee meetings is dealt with in the Act. 4.11 Procedure where no quorum to begin a meeting The procedure where there is no quorum to begin a meeting is dealt with in the Regulations. 4.12 Procedure where quorum not present during a meeting If at any time during a meeting a quorum is not present, the Presiding Member is— (a) immediately to suspend the proceedings of the meeting for a period of up to 15 minutes; and (b) if a quorum is not present at the expiry of that period, the Presiding Member is to adjourn the meeting to some future time or date. 4.13 Names to be recorded At any meeting— (a) at which there is not a quorum present; or (b) which is adjourned for want of a quorum, the names of the Members then present are to be recorded in the minutes.
3702 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 18 October 2019 PART 5—BUSINESS OF A MEETING 5.1 Business to be specified (1) No business is to be transacted at any ordinary meeting of the Council other than that specified in the agenda, without the approval of the Presiding Member or the Council. (2) No business is to be transacted at a special meeting of the Council other than that given in the notice as the purpose of the meeting. (3) Subject to subclause (4), no business is to be transacted at an adjourned meeting of the Council other than that— (a) specified in the notice of the meeting which had been adjourned; and (b) which remains unresolved. (4) Where a meeting is adjourned to the next ordinary meeting of the Council then, unless the Council resolves otherwise, the business unresolved at the adjourned meeting is to be dealt with before considering Reports (Item 10) at that ordinary meeting. 5.2 Order of business (1) Unless otherwise decided by the Council the order of business at any ordinary meeting of the Council is to be as follows— 1 Declaration of Opening 2 Record of Attendance and Apologies 3 Disclosures of Interests 4 Response to previous public questions taken on notice 5 Public Question Time 6 Applications for Leave of Absence 7 Petitions, Approved Deputations and Public Statements 8 Announcements by Person Presiding Without Discussion 9 Confirmation of Previous Minutes 10 Reports of Committees and Officers 11 Information Bulletins 12 Motions for Which Previous Notice Has Been Given 13 Questions by Members of Which Due Notice Has Been Given 14 Members’ Questions Without Notice 15 Urgent Business Approved by the Person Presiding or by Decision 16 Matters Behind Closed Doors 17 Business Not Dealt with From a Previous Meeting 18 General Business 19 Closure of Meeting (2) Unless otherwise decided by the Council, the order of business at any special meeting of the Council is to be the order in which that business stands in the agenda of the meeting. (3) In determining the order of business for any meeting of the Council, the provisions of the Act and Regulations relating to the time at which public question time is to be held are to be observed. [See section 5.24 of the Act; and regulations 6 & 7 of the Regulations] 5.3 Motions of which previous notice has been given (1) Unless the Act, Regulations or these Local Laws otherwise provide, a Member may raise at a meeting such business as he or she considers appropriate, in the form of a motion, of which notice has been given in writing to the CEO and which has been included on the agenda. (2) A notice of motion under subclause (1) is to be given at least 7 clear working days before the meeting at which the motion is moved. (3) A notice of motion is to relate to a purpose for which the Western Metropolitan Regional Council is established. (4) The CEO— (a) may, with the concurrence of the Chairman, exclude from the notice paper any notice of motion deemed to be, or likely to involve, a breach of any of these Local Laws or any other written law; (b) will inform Members on each occasion that a notice has been excluded and the reasons for that exclusion; (c) may, after consultation with the Member where this is practicable, make such amendments to the form but not the substance as will bring the notice of motion into due form; and (d) may provide to the Council relevant and material facts and circumstances pertaining to the notice of motion on such matters as policy, budget and law. (5) A motion of which notice has been given is to lapse unless— (a) the Member who gave notice of it, or some other Member authorised by the originating Member in writing, moves the motion when called on; or (b) the Council on a motion agrees to defer consideration of the motion to a later stage or date. (6) If a notice of motion is given and lapses under subclause (5), notice of a motion in the same terms or to the same effect is not to be given again for at least 3 months from the date of such lapse.
18 October 2019 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3703 5.4 New business of an urgent nature (1) In cases of extreme urgency or other special circumstances, matters may, on a motion by the Presiding Member that is carried by the meeting, be raised without notice and decided by the meeting. (2) In subclause (1), ‘cases of extreme urgency or other special circumstances’ means matters that have arisen after the preparation of the agenda that are considered by the Presiding Member to be of such importance and urgency that they are unable to be dealt with administratively by the Western Metropolitan Regional Council and must be considered and dealt with by the Council before the next meeting. 5.5 Adoption by exception resolution (1) In this clause ‘adoption by exception resolution’ means a resolution of the Council that has the effect of adopting, for a number of specifically identified reports, the officer recommendation as the Council resolution. (2) Subject to subclause (3), the Western Metropolitan Regional Council may pass an adoption by exception resolution. (3) An adoption by exception resolution may not be used for a matter— (a) that requires a 75% majority or a special majority; (b) in which an interest has been disclosed; (c) that has been the subject of a petition or deputation; (d) that is a matter on which a Member wishes to make a statement; or (e) that is a matter on which a Member wishes to move a motion that is different to the recommendation. PART 6—PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 6.1 Meetings generally open to the public Meetings being generally open to the public is dealt with in the Act. 6.2 Meetings not open to the public (1) The CEO may, at any time, recommend that a meeting or part of a meeting be closed to members of the public. (2) The Council or a committee, in one or more of the circumstances dealt with in the Act, may at any time, by resolution, decide to close a meeting or part of a meeting. (3) If a resolution under subclause (2) is carried— (a) the Presiding Member is to direct everyone to leave the meeting except— (i) the Members; (ii) the CEO; and (iii) any Officer specified by the Presiding Member; and (b) the meeting is to be closed to the public until, at the conclusion of the matter justifying the closure of the meeting to the public, the Council or the committee, by resolution, decides otherwise. (4) A person who fails to comply with a direction under subclause (3)(a) may, by order of the Presiding Member, be removed from the meeting. (5) While the resolution under subclause (2) remains in force, the operation of clause 8.9 is to be suspended until the Council or the committee, by resolution, decides otherwise. (6) A resolution under this clause may be made without notice. (7) Unless the Council resolves otherwise, once the meeting is reopened to members of the public, the Presiding Member is to ensure that any resolution of the Council made while the meeting was closed is to be read out including a vote of a Member to be included in the minutes. 6.3 Question time for the public Question time for the public is dealt with in the Act. 6.4 Question time for the public at certain meetings Question time for the public at certain meetings is dealt with in the Regulations. 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.
3704 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 18 October 2019 (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 2 questions before other members of the public will be invited to ask their questions. (6) 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. (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 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 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. 6.9 Deputations (1) Any person or group wishing to be received as a deputation by the Council is to either— (a) apply, before the meeting, to the CEO for approval; or (b) with the approval of the Presiding Member, at the meeting, address the Council. (2) The CEO may either— (a) approve the request and invite the deputation to attend a meeting of the Council; or (b) refer the request to the Council to decide by simple majority whether or not to receive the deputation. (3) Unless the council resolves otherwise, a deputation invited to attend a Council meeting— (a) is not to exceed 5 persons, only 2 of whom may address the Council, although others may respond to specific questions from Members; (b) is not to address the Council for a period exceeding 10 minutes without the agreement of the Council; and, (c) additional members of the deputation may be allowed to speak with the leave of the Presiding Member. (4) Any matter which is the subject of a deputation to the Council is not to be decided by the Council until the deputation has completed its presentation. 6.10 Petitions (1) A petition is to— (a) be addressed to the Chairman; (b) be made by electors of the Participants; (c) state the request on each page of the petition; (d) contain the name, address and signature of each elector making the request, and the date each elector signed; (e) contain a summary of the reasons for the request; and (f) state the name of the person to whom, and an address at which, notice to the petitioners can be given. (2) Upon receiving a petition, the Western Metropolitan Regional Council is to submit the petition to the relevant officer to be included in his or her deliberations and report on the matter that is the subject of the petition. (3) At any meeting, the Council is not to vote on any matter that is the subject of a petition presented to that meeting, unless— (a) the matter is the subject of a report included in the agenda; and (b) the Council has considered the issues raised in the petition.
18 October 2019 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3705 6.11 Presentations (1) In this clause, a “presentation” means the acceptance of a gift or an award by the Council on behalf of the Western Metropolitan Regional Council or the community. (2) A presentation may be made to the Council at a meeting only with the prior approval of the CEO. 6.12 Participation at committee meetings (1) In this clause a reference to a person is to a person who— (a) is entitled to attend a committee meeting; (b) attends a committee meeting; and (c) is not a member of that committee. A member of the public is entitled to attend a committee meeting only where a local government power or duty has been delegated to that committee: see section 5.23(1)(b) of the Act. (2) A member may attend, as an observer, any meeting of a committee of which he or she is not a member or the deputy of a member. (3) Without the consent of the Presiding Member, no person is to address a committee meeting. (4) The Presiding Member of a committee may allow a person to make an oral submission to the committee for up to 3 minutes. (5) A person addressing the committee with the consent of the Presiding Member is to cease that address immediately after being directed to do so by the Presiding Member. (6) A person who fails to comply with a direction of the Presiding Member under subclause (5) may, by order of the Presiding Member, be removed from the committee room. (7) The Council may make a policy dealing with the circumstances in which a person may be given consent to address a committee meeting. 6.13 Council may meet to hear public submissions (1) Where an item on the agenda at a Council meeting is contentious and is likely be the subject of a number of deputations, the Council may resolve to meet at another time to provide a greater opportunity to be heard. (2) The CEO and the Chairman shall set the time and date of the meeting to provide the opportunity to be heard. (3) Where the Council resolves to meet to provide the opportunity to be heard under subclause (1), the Presiding Member shall— (a) instruct the CEO to provide local public notice of the time and date when the Council will meet to provide an opportunity to be heard; (b) provide a written invitation to attend the meeting to provide the opportunity to be heard to all members of the public who have applied under clause 6.9 to make a deputation on the issue; and (c) cause minutes to be kept of the meeting to provide the opportunity to be heard. (4) A meeting held under subclause (1) shall be conducted only to hear submissions. The council shall not make resolutions at a meeting to provide the opportunity to be heard. (5) At a meeting held under subclause (1), each person making a submission shall be provided with the opportunity to fully state his or her case. (6) A member of the public shall be limited to 10 minutes in making an oral submission, but this period may be extended at the discretion of the Presiding Member. (7) Once every member of the public has had the opportunity to make a submission the Presiding Member is to close the meeting. (8) The CEO is to ensure that a report is included on the agenda of the next Council meeting summarising each submission made at the meeting. (9) The Council must not resolve on the matter that is the subject of a meeting to provide the opportunity to be heard until it has received the CEO’s report under subclause (8). 6.14 Public Inspection of agenda materials The right of the public to inspect the documents referred to, and in accordance with, regulation 14 of the Regulations may be exercised at the Western Metropolitan Regional Council’s Administration Offices; and on the Western Metropolitan Regional Council’s website. 6.15 Confidentiality of information withheld (1) Information withheld by the CEO from the public under regulation 14(2) of the Regulations is to be— (a) identified in the agenda of a Council meeting under the item “Matters for which meeting may be closed”; (b) marked “Confidential” in the agenda; and (c) kept confidential by Officers and Members until the Council resolves otherwise. (2) A member or an officer in receipt of confidential information under subclause (1) or information that is provided or disclosed during a meeting or part of a meeting that is closed to the public is not to disclose any of that information to any person other than another member or an officer to the extent necessary for the purpose of carrying out his or her duties.
3706 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 18 October 2019 (3) Subclause (2) does not apply where a member or officer discloses the information to his or her lawyer or government officer for the purpose of seeking advice in order to lawfully fulfil his or her role and responsibilities. 6.16 Recording of proceedings (1) 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. (2) If the Council gives permission under subclause (1), the Presiding Member is to advise the meeting, immediately before the recording is commenced, that such permission has been given and the nature and extent of that permission. 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 districts of the Participants. (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 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. 8.2 Titles to be used A speaker, when referring to the Chairman, Deputy Chairman or Presiding Member, or a Member or Officer, is to use the title of that person’s office. 8.3 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. 8.4 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 these Local Laws.
18 October 2019 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3707 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. (2) The Presiding Member, at any time, may— (a) call the attention of the meeting to— (i) any irrelevant, repetitious, offensive or insulting language by a Member; or (ii) any breach of order by a Member; and (b) direct that Member, if speaking, to discontinue his or her speech. (3) A Member is to comply with the direction of the Presiding Member under subclause (2) by immediately ceasing to speak. 8.8 Speaking twice A Member is not to address the Council more than once on any motion or amendment except— (a) as the mover of a substantive motion, to exercise a right of reply; (b) to raise a point of order; or (c) to make a personal explanation. 8.9 Duration of speeches (1) A Member is not to speak on any matter for more than five minutes without the consent of the Council which, if given, is to be given without debate. (2) An extension under this clause cannot be given to allow a Member’s total speaking time to exceed ten minutes. 8.10 No speaking after conclusion of debate A Member is not to speak on any motion or amendment— (a) after the mover has replied; or (b) after the question has been put. 8.11 No interruption A Member is not to interrupt another Member who is speaking unless— (a) to raise a point of order; (b) to call attention to the absence of a quorum; (c) to make a personal explanation under clause 8.13; or (d) to move a procedural motion that the Member be no longer heard (see clause 11.1(e)). 8.12 Personal explanations (1) A Member who wishes to make a personal explanation relating to a matter referred to by another Member who is then speaking is to indicate to the Presiding Member his or her intention to make a personal explanation. (2) The Presiding Member is to determine whether the personal explanation is to be heard immediately or at the conclusion of the speech by the other Member. (3) A Member making a personal explanation is to confine his or her observations to a succinct statement relating to a specific part of the speech at which he or she may have been misunderstood. 8.13 No reopening of discussion A Member is not to reopen discussion on any Council decision, except to move that the decision be revoked or changed (see Part 16). 8.14 Adverse reflection (1) A Member is not to reflect adversely on a decision of the Council except on a motion that the decision be revoked or changed (see Part 16), unless the meeting resolves, without debate, that the question then before the meeting cannot otherwise be adequately considered. (2) A Member is not— (a) to reflect adversely on the character or actions of another Member or Officer; or (b) to impute any motive to a Member or Officer, unless the meeting resolves, without debate, that the question then before the meeting cannot otherwise be adequately considered. (3) A Member is not to use offensive or insulting expressions in reference to any Member, Officer or other person. (4) If a Member specifically requests, immediately after their use, that any particular words used by a Member be recorded in the minutes— (a) the Presiding Member is to cause the words used to be taken down and read to the meeting for verification; and (b) the Council may, by resolution, decide to record those words in the minutes.
3708 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 18 October 2019 8.15 Withdrawal of offensive language (1) A Member who, in the opinion of the Presiding Member, uses an expression which— (a) in the absence of a resolution under clause 8.15— (i) reflects adversely on the character or actions of another Member or Officer; or (ii) imputes any motive to a Member or Officer; or (b) is offensive or insulting, must, when directed by the Presiding Member, withdraw the expression and make a satisfactory apology. (2) If a Member fails to comply with a direction of the Presiding Member under subclause (1), the Presiding Member may refuse to hear the Member further on the matter then under discussion and call on the next speaker. PART 9—PRESERVING ORDER 9.1 Presiding Member to preserve order (1) The Presiding Member is to preserve order, and, whenever he or she considers necessary, may call any Member to order. (2) When the Presiding Member speaks during a debate, every Member present is to preserve strict silence so that the Presiding Member may be heard without interruption. (3) Subclause (2) is not to be used by the Presiding Member to exercise the right provided in clause 8.7, but to preserve order. 9.2 Point of order (1) A Member may object, by way of a point of order, only to a breach of— (a) any of these Local Laws; or (b) any other written law. (2) Despite anything in these Local Laws to the contrary, a point of order— (a) takes precedence over any discussion; and (b) until determined, suspends the consideration or discussion of any other matter. 9.3 Procedures on a point of order (1) A Member who is addressing the Presiding Member is not to be interrupted except on a point of order. (2) A Member interrupted on a point of order is to stay silent until— (a) the Member raising the point of order has been heard; and (b) the Presiding Member has ruled on the point of order, and, if permitted, the Member who has been interrupted may then proceed. 9.4 Calling attention to breach A Member may, at any time, draw the attention of the Presiding Member to any breach of these Local Laws. 9.5 Ruling by the Presiding Member (1) The Presiding Member is to rule on any point of order which is raised by either upholding or rejecting the point of order. (2) A ruling by the Presiding Member on a point of order is to be final unless the majority of Members then present and voting, on a motion moved immediately after the ruling, dissent from the ruling. (3) Subject to a motion of dissent being carried under subclause (2), if the Presiding Member rules that— (a) any motion, amendment or other matter before the meeting is out of order, it is not to be considered further; and (b) a statement made or act done by a Member is out of order, the Presiding Member may require the Member to make an explanation, retraction or apology. 9.6 Continued breach of order If a Member— (a) persists in any conduct that the Presiding Member had ruled is out of order; or (b) refuses to make an explanation, retraction or apology required by the Presiding Member under clause 9.5(3), the Presiding Member may direct the Member to refrain from taking any further part in the matter under discussion, other than by voting, and the Member is to comply with that direction. 9.7 Right of Presiding Member to adjourn (1) For the purpose of preserving or regaining order, the Presiding Member may adjourn the meeting for a period of up to 15 minutes. (2) On resumption, the debate is to continue at the point at which the meeting was adjourned.
18 October 2019 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3709 (3) If, at any one meeting, the Presiding Member adjourns the meeting more than once for the purpose of preserving or regaining order, the second or subsequent adjournment may be to a later time on the same day or to another day. PART 10—DEBATE OF SUBSTANTIVE MOTIONS 10.1 Motions to be stated and in writing Any Member who wishes to move a substantive motion or an amendment to a substantive motion— (a) is to state the substance of the motion before speaking to it; and (b) if required by the Presiding Member, is to put the motion or amendment in writing. 10.2 Motions to be supported (1) A substantive motion or an amendment to a substantive motion is not open to debate until it has been seconded. (2) A motion to revoke or change a decision made at a Council meeting is not open to debate unless the motion has the support required under regulation 10 of the Regulations. 10.3 Unopposed business (1) Immediately after a substantive motion has been moved and seconded, the Presiding Member may ask the meeting if any Member opposes it. (2) If no Member opposes the motion, the Presiding Member may declare it carried without debate and without taking a vote. (3) A motion declared carried under this clause is to be recorded in the minutes as a unanimous decision of the Council. (4) If a Member opposes a motion, the motion is to be dealt with under this Part. (5) This clause does not apply to a motion to revoke or change a decision which has been made at a Council meeting (see Part 16). 10.4 Only one substantive motion at a time When a substantive motion is under debate at a meeting of the Council, no further substantive motion is to be accepted. The Council is not to consider more than one substantive motion at any time. 10.5 Order of call in debate The Presiding Member is to call speakers to a substantive motion in the following order— (a) the mover to state the motion; (b) a seconder to the motion; (c) the mover to speak to the motion; (d) the seconder to speak to the motion; (e) a speaker against the motion; (f) a speaker for the motion; (g) other speakers against and for the motion, alternating where possible; and (h) mover takes right of reply which closes debate. 10.6 Limit of debate The Presiding Member may offer the right of reply and put a substantive motion to the vote if he or she believes that sufficient discussion has taken place even though all Members may not have spoken. 10.7 Member may require question to be read A Member may require the question or matter under discussion to be read at any time during a debate, but not so as to interrupt any other Member who is speaking. 10.8 Consent of seconder required for alteration The mover of a substantive motion may not alter the wording of the motion without the consent of the seconder. 10.9 Order of amendments Any number of amendments may be proposed to a substantive motion, but when an amendment is moved to a substantive motion, no second or subsequent amendment is to be moved or considered until the first amendment has been withdrawn, carried or lost. 10.10 Form of an amendment An amendment must add, delete, or substitute words to the substantive motion. 10.11 Amendment must not negate original motion An amendment to a substantive motion cannot negate the original motion or the intent of the original motion. 10.12 Relevance of amendments Each amendment is to be relevant to the motion in respect of which it is moved. 10.13 Mover of motion may speak on amendment Any Member may speak during debate on an amendment.
3710 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 18 October 2019 10.14 Effect of an amendment If an amendment to a substantive motion is carried, the motion as amended then becomes the substantive motion, on which any Member may speak and any further amendment may be moved. 10.15 Withdrawal of motion or amendment (1) Subject to subclause (2), the Council may, without debate, grant leave to withdraw a motion or amendment on the request of the mover of the motion or amendment and with the approval of the seconder. (2) Where an amendment has been proposed to a substantive motion, the substantive motion is not to be withdrawn, except by consent of the majority of Members present, until the amendment proposed has been withdrawn or lost. 10.16 Right of reply (1) The mover of a substantive motion has the right of reply. (2) The mover of any amendment to a substantive motion has a right of reply. (3) The right of the reply may only be exercised— (a) where no amendment is moved to the substantive motion—at the conclusion of the discussion on the motion; or (b) where one or more amendments have been moved to the substantive motion—at the conclusion of the discussion on the substantive motion and any amendments. (4) After the mover of the substantive motion has commenced the reply— (a) no other Member is to speak on the question; (b) there is to be no further discussion on, or any further amendment to, the motion. (5) The right of the reply is to be confined to rebutting arguments raised by previous speakers and no new matter is to be introduced. (6) At the conclusion of the right of reply, the substantive motion, or the substantive motion as amended, is immediately to be put to the vote. PART 11—PROCEDURAL MOTIONS 11.1 Permissible procedural motions In addition to the right to move an amendment to a substantive motion (under Part 10), a Member may move the following procedural motions— (a) that the debate be adjourned; (b) that the meeting now adjourn; (c) that the question be now put; (d) that the Member be no longer heard; (e) that the ruling of the Presiding Member be disagreed with; (f) that the meeting be closed to the public (see clause 6.2). 11.2 No debate (1) The mover of a motion specified in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (f) of clause 11.1 may speak to the motion for not more than five minutes, the seconder is not to speak other than to formally second the motion, and there is to be no debate on the motion. (2) The mover of a motion specified in paragraph (c) or (d) of clause 11.1 may not speak to the motion, the seconder is not to speak other than to formally second the motion, and there is to be no debate on the motion. 11.3 Who may move No person who has moved, seconded, or spoken for or against the substantive motion, or any amendment to the substantive motion, may move any procedural motion which, if carried, would close the debate on the substantive motion or amendment. 11.4 Procedural motions—right of reply on substantive motion The carrying of a procedural motion which closes debate on the substantive motion or amendment and forces a decision on the substantive motion or amendment does not deny the right of reply to the mover of the substantive motion. 11.5 Meeting to proceed to the next business The motion “that the meeting proceed to the next business”, if carried, has the effect that— (a) the debate on the substantive motion or amendment ceases immediately; (b) no decision is made on the substantive motion; (c) the Council moves to the next item of business; and (d) there is no requirement for the matter to be raised again for consideration. 11.6 Debate to be adjourned A motion “that the debate be adjourned”— (a) is to state the time to which the debate is to be adjourned; and (b) if carried, has the effect that all debate on the substantive motion or amendment ceases immediately, but continues at the time stated in the motion.
18 October 2019 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3711 11.7 Meeting now adjourn (1) A Member is not to move or second more than one motion of adjournment during the same sitting of the Council. (2) Before putting the motion for the adjournment of the Council, the Presiding Member may seek leave of the Council to deal first with matters that may be the subject of an adoption by exception resolution (see clause 5.5). (3) A motion “that the meeting now adjourn”— (a) is to state the time and date to which the meeting is to be adjourned; and (b) if carried, has the effect that the meeting is adjourned to the time and date specified in the motion. (4) A meeting adjourned under subclause (3) is to continue from the point at which it was adjourned, unless the Presiding Member or the Council determines otherwise. 11.8 Question to be put (1) If the motion “that the question be now put”, is carried during debate on a substantive motion without amendment, the Presiding Member is to offer the right of reply and then put the motion to the vote without further debate. (2) If the motion “that the question be now put” is carried during discussion of an amendment, the Presiding Member is to put the amendment to the vote without further debate. (3) This motion, if lost, causes debate to continue. 11.9 Member to be no longer heard If the motion “that the member be no longer heard”, is carried, the speaker against whom the motion has been moved cannot speak further on the current substantive motion, or any amendment relating to it, except to exercise the right of reply if he or she is the mover of the substantive motion. 11.10 Ruling of the Presiding Member to be disagreed with If the motion “that the ruling of the Presiding Member be disagreed with”, is carried, that ruling is to have no effect and the meeting is to proceed accordingly. PART 12—DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS 12.1 Disclosure of interests Disclosure of interests is dealt with in the Act. PART 13—VOTING 13.1 Question—when put (1) Immediately after the debate on any question is concluded and the right of reply has been exercised, the Presiding Member— (a) is to put the question to the Council; and (b) if requested by any Member, is to again state the terms of the question. (2) A Member is not to leave the meeting when the Presiding Member is putting any question. 13.2 Voting Voting is dealt with in the Act and the Regulations. 13.3 Majorities required for decisions The majorities required for decisions of the Council and committees are dealt with in the Act. 13.4 Method of taking vote (1) In taking the vote on any motion or amendment the Presiding Member— (a) is to put the question, first in the affirmative, and then in the negative; (b) may put the question in this way as often as may be necessary to enable him or her to determine whether the affirmative or the negative has the majority of votes; (c) may accept a vote on the voices or may require a show of hands; and, (d) is, subject to this clause, to declare the result. (2) If a Member calls for a show of hands, the result of the vote is to be determined on the count of raised hands. (3) If a member of council or a committee specifically requests that there be recorded— (a) his or her vote; or, (b) the vote of all members present, on a matter voted on at a meeting of the council or committee, the person presiding is to cause the vote or votes, as the case may be, to be recorded in the minutes. (4) If a Member calls for a division— (a) those voting in the affirmative are to pass to the right of the Chair; and (b) those voting in the negative are to pass to the left of the Chair.
3712 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 18 October 2019 (5) For every division, the CEO is to record— (a) the name of each member who voted; and (b) whether he or she voted in the affirmative or negative. PART 14—MINUTES OF MEETINGS 14.1 Keeping of minutes The keeping and confirmation of minutes are dealt with in the Act. 14.2 Content of minutes (1) The content of minutes is dealt with in the Regulations. (2) In addition to the matters required by regulation 11, the minutes of a Council meeting is to include, where an application for approval is refused or the authorisation of a licence, permit or certificate is withheld or cancelled, the reasons for the decision. 14.3 Public inspection of unconfirmed minutes The public inspection of unconfirmed minutes is dealt with in the Regulations. 14.4 Confirmation of minutes (1) When minutes of an ordinary meeting of the Council are distributed for consideration prior to their confirmation at the next meeting, if a Member is dissatisfied with the accuracy of the minutes, the Member may provide the Western Metropolitan Regional Council with a written copy of the alternative wording to amend the minutes no later than 7 clear working days before the next ordinary meeting of the Council. (2) At the next ordinary meeting of the Council, the Member who provided the alternative wording shall, at the time for confirmation of minutes— (a) state the item or items with which he or she is dissatisfied; and (b) propose a motion clearly outlining the alternative wording to amend the minutes. (3) Members must not discuss items of business contained in the minutes, other than discussion as to their accuracy as a record of the proceedings. PART 15—ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING 15.1 Meeting may be adjourned The Council may adjourn any meeting— (a) to a later time on the same day; or (b) to any other time on any other day, including a time which coincides with the conclusion of another meeting or event. 15.2 Effect of adjournment Where any matter, motion, debate or meeting is adjourned under these Local Laws— (a) the names of Members who have spoken on the matter prior to the adjournment are to be recorded in the minutes; (b) debate is to be resumed at the next meeting at the point where it was interrupted; and (c) the provisions of clause 8.9 [speaking twice] apply when the debate is resumed. PART 16—REVOKING OR CHANGING DECISIONS 16.1 Requirements to revoke or change decisions The requirements to revoke or change a decision made at a meeting are dealt with in regulation 10 of the Regulations. 16.2 Limitations on powers to revoke or change decisions (1) Subject to subclause (2), the Council or a committee is not to consider a motion to revoke or change a decision— (a) where, at the time the motion is moved or notice is given, any action has been taken under clause 16.3 to implement the decision; or (b) where the decision is procedural in its form or effect. (2) The Council or a committee may consider a motion to revoke or change a decision of the kind described in subclause (1)(a) if the motion is accompanied by a written statement of the legal and financial consequences of carrying the motion. 16.3 Implementing a decision (1) In this clause— (a) “authorisation” means a licence, permit, approval or other means of authorising a person to do anything; (b) “implement”, in relation to a decision, includes— (i) communicate notice of the decision to a person affected by, or with an interest in, the decision; and (ii) take any other action to give effect to the decision; and
18 October 2019 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 3713 (c) “valid notice of revocation motion” means a notice of motion to revoke or change a decision that complies with the requirements of the Act, Regulations and the Local Laws and may be considered, but has not yet been considered, by the Council or a committee as the case may be. (2) Subject to subclause (4), and unless a resolution is made under subclause (3), a decision made at a meeting is not to be implemented by the CEO or any other person until the afternoon of the first business day after the commencement of the meeting at which the decision was made. (3) The Council or a committee may, by resolution carried at the same meeting at which a decision was made, direct the CEO or another person to take immediate action to implement the decision. (4) A decision made at a meeting is not to be implemented by the CEO or any other person— (a) if, before commencing any implementation action, the CEO or that person is given a valid notice of revocation motion; and (b) unless and until the valid notice of revocation motion has been determined by the Council or the committee as the case may be. (5) The CEO is to ensure that members of the public attending the meeting are informed by an appropriate notice that a decision to grant an authorisation— (a) is to take effect only in accordance with this clause; and (b) cannot be acted upon by the person who has been granted the authorisation unless and until the decision has been implemented in accordance with this clause. PART 17—SUSPENSION OF LOCAL LAWS 17.1 Suspension of Local Laws (1) A Member may at any time move that the operation of one or more of the provisions of these Local Laws be suspended. (2) A Member moving a motion under subclause (1) is to state the reasons for the motion but no other discussion is to take place. (3) A motion under subclause (1) which is— (a) seconded; and (b) carried by an absolute majority, is to suspend the operation of the clause or clauses to which the motion relates for the duration of the meeting, unless the meeting earlier resolves otherwise. 17.2 Where Local Laws do not apply (1) In situations where— (a) one or more provisions of these Local Laws have been suspended; or (b) a matter is not regulated by the Act, the Regulations or these Local Laws, the Presiding Member is to decide questions relating to the conduct of the meeting. (2) The decision of the Presiding Member under subclause (1) is final, except where a motion is moved and carried under clause 11.10. PART 18—ENFORCEMENT 18.1 Penalty for breach A person who breaches a provision of these Local Laws commits an offence. Penalty: $1,000.00 and a daily penalty of $100.00. 18.2 Who can prosecute Who can prosecute is dealt with in the Act. ———— Dated: 3 October 2019. The Common Seal of the Western Metropolitan Regional Council was affixed by the authority of a resolution of Council in the presence of— CHARLES HOHNEN, Chairman. STEFAN FRODSHAM, Chief Executive Officer ———————————