A NUMBER of changes to how council meetings are conducted have been proposed in Gannawarra Shire Council’s Governance Rules
Eight changes are proposed, relating to calling unscheduled meetings, consideration of urgent business, tabling of arbiters’ decisions, question time guidelines and how a petition is processed.
The proposed changes to question time guidelines would involve moving the deadline for receiving questions to no later than 5pm the day prior to the council meeting and the person submitting the question having the option to ask their question verbally if they wish.
Mayor Charlie Gillingham said that would allow for “improved community engagement”. Proposed changes to the petition process would require any petition or joint letter be received by council no later than 12 noon, 10 business days before the meeting at which the matter is to be considered.
Cr Gillingham said this would ensure the item could be listed in the agenda and enabled sufficient time for a report regarding the petition’s request to be prepared for councillors to consider.
“Our governance rules are important as they outline how meetings are run, how the mayor and deputy mayor are elected, how council handles questions from the public and petitions, and how council operates during a local government election period,” Cr Gillingham said.
“Additional improvements to the governance rules have been identified following the document’s last review in August 2022, which will provide for good governance practices in order to achieve the best outcomes for the community via the operation of council meetings.”
Residents can have their say on the proposed changes via the Have Your Say form at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/yoursay, emailing council@gsc.vic.gov.au or writing to Gannawarra Shire Council, PO Box 287, Kerang, 3579.
Feedback is accepted until 5m on Wednesday, August 30.
The final version of the governance rules will be presented at the September council meeting.
