Reports of committees of Council 9.12
The recommendations of a committee of the Council are, insofar as they are adopted by the Council, resolutions of the Council.
9.13
If in a report of a committee of the Council distinct recommendations are made, the Council may make separate decisions on each recommendation.
Questions 9.14
A question must not be asked at a meeting of the Council unless it concerns a matter on the agenda of the meeting or notice has been given of the question in accordance with clauses 3.11 and 3.16.
9.15
Questions should not refer to known confidential matters that have been previously, or are yet to be, discussed by Council in closed session, nor refer to confidential matters as listed in section 10A(2) of the Local Government Act.
9.16
A Councillor may, through the Chairperson, put a question to another Councillor about a matter on the agenda.
9.17
A Councillor may, through the General Manager, put a question to a Council employee about a matter on the agenda. Council employees are only obliged to answer a question put to them through the General Manager at the direction of the General Manager.
9.18
A Councillor or Council employee to whom a question is put is entitled to be given reasonable notice of the question and, in particular, sufficient notice to enable reference to be made to other persons or to information. Where a Councillor or Council employee to whom a question is put is unable to respond to the question at the meeting at which it is put, they may take it on notice and report the response to the next meeting of the Council.
9.19
A Councillor must put questions directly, succinctly, respectfully and without argument.
9.20
Questions are only to elicit information, not to give information.
9.21
Questions may not include statements, arguments, inferences, imputations, ironical expressions, expressions of opinion, and or hypothetical questions.
9.22
Questions may not ask for expressions of opinion of a personal or political nature or legal opinions.
9.23
The chairperson must not permit discussion on any reply to, or refusal to reply to, a question put to a Councillor or Council employee.
10
Rules of Debate
Motions to be seconded 10.1
Unless otherwise specified in this code, a motion or an amendment cannot be debated unless or until it has been seconded.
Code of Meeting Practice – Version 4 – April 2022
Page 20 of 44
