Council Meetings
About Council Meetings
Mansfield Shire Council encourages its residents & ratepayers to participate in the local government of Mansfield. Accordingly, these notes have been developed to help residents and ratepayers better understand Council meetings. All meetings are conducted in accordance with Council’s Local Legislation on Governance.
OPENING OF THE MEETING
The Mayor, who chairs the meeting, will formally open the meeting and welcome all present.
STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT
The Council affirms its commitment to carry out its duties in the best interests of the community and that its conduct shall maintain the standards of the Code of Good Governance.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
The Council affirms its recognition of the Indigenous people being custodians of this area.
APOLOGIES
Where a Councillor is not present, his or her absence is noted in the Minutes of the meeting.
CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
The minutes of the previous meeting are placed before Council to confirm the accuracy and completeness of the record.
DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
Under the Local Government Act 1989, a Councillor has a duty to disclose any direct or indirect conflict (financial) of interest, he or she may have in any matter to be considered by Council at that meeting.
REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
Council receives petitions from residents & ratepayers on various issues. Any petitions received since the previous Council meeting are tabled at the meeting and the matter referred to the appropriate Council officer for consideration.
NOTICES OF MOTION
Councillors may raise issues or matters of interest that are not listed on the meeting Agenda.
PRESENTATION OF REPORTS Mayor’s Report
The Mayor provides a report on his activities.
Councillor Portfolio Reports
Councillors will brief the Council on their respective portfolio(s).
Officer Reports
Detailed reports prepared by Council officers and are considered by Councillors. A Council position is adopted on the matters considered.
Advisory Committee Reports
Council considers reports from Advisory Committees that Councillors represent Council on.
Special Committee Reports
Council considers reports from Special Committees that Councillors represent Council on.
Assemblies of Councillors
Under Section 76AA of the Local Government Act 1989 an Assembly of Councillors is defined as a planned or scheduled meeting, comprising at least three Councillors and one member of Council staff, that consider matters that are intended likely to be the subject of a decision of the Council or subject to the exercise of a function, duty of power of a Council that has been delegated to a person or committee. Such meetings are to be recorded on the Agenda and Minutes of Ordinary meetings of Council.
AUTHORISATION OF SEALING OF DOCUMENTS
Any documents that are required to be endorsed by the Chief Executive Officer under delegated authority and sealed by the Council are presented to the Council.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
This is an opportunity (usually 30 minutes), for members of the Gallery to raise questions with Councillors. Question Time generally takes place at around 7.00pm.
CLOSURE OF MEETING TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
Whilst all Council meetings are open to members of the public, Council has the power under the Local Government Act to close its meeting to the general public in certain circumstances which are noted where appropriate on the Council Agenda. Where this occurs, members of the public leave the Council Chamber while the matter is being discussed.
CLOSURE OF MEETING
The Mayor will formally close the meeting and thank all present.
Council adopted its Community Local Law - Processes of Municipal Government (Meeting Procedures) at its meeting of 16 May 2006. The aim of this Local Law is to encourage orderly, efficient and equitable meeting conduct and to provide for peace, order and good government of the Mansfield Shire Council.
The Meeting Procedures Local Law 2006 provides comprehensive guidelines for Council meeting and Council Committee conduct, including Special Committees.