A new agenda heading called ‘Resolutions Register’ under adoption of the ‘Minutes’ heading to allow council to receive updates on its past resolutions, and the meeting’s start time, are the main inclusions.
In keeping with tradition, council’s monthly meetings will stay at 9.30am for commencement, instead of a proposed 10.00am start. These meetings are open to the public.
Following community consultation, council received one submission, relating to the start time of Ordinary Council Meetings.
Keen to continue reporting on at least one major item on the council agenda for the current week’s newspaper, The Free Press advised the adverse impact the proposed later start time (10am) would have meeting the deadline for such.
Cr David Bott said it would be a very poor move to delay the meeting until 10.00am. “It’s absolutely imperative that the media gets the opportunity to report as quickly as possible for good governance,” he said. Cr David Harrison endorsed Cr Bott’s remarks.
The suggested meeting start change to 10.00am arose after council proposed a 9.00am Tuesday – instead of a Friday evening time – for anyone wanting to address council; then for council to consider the address or addresses before the formal commencement of the meeting.
In the rare situation that several speakers want to address council, from 9.00am, the 9.30am could for example, become about 9.40am with appropriate live streaming notice to the community.
Some discussion occurred around the use of Christian names when addressing fellow councillors. But, in keeping with tradition, Cr Pat Bourke got straight to the point. “Christian names can be used outside the meeting. When in the chamber, you’re a councillor.”
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