Ordinary council meeting, 21 August 2017

The minutes record question time as follows, in council's own words.

Clause 61 of the council's Meeting Procedure Local Law (no. 1 of 2009) states: 61.1 There shall be a public question time at every Ordinary meeting to enable members of the public to submit written questions to Council. 61.2 Public Question Time will have a duration as determined by Council from time to time. 61.3 Questions submitted to Council must be prefaced by the name and address of the person submitting the question and generally be in a form approved or permitted by Council. 61.4 Persons submitting questions must be present in the gallery at the time the question is due to be read, or the question will not be addressed by Council. 61.5 No person may submit more than two questions at any one meeting. 61.6 If a person has submitted two questions to a meeting, the second question: a) may, at the discretion of the Chairperson, be deferred until all other persons who have asked a question have had their questions asked and answered; or b) may not be asked if the time allotted for public question time has expired. 61.7 A question may be disallowed by the Chairperson if the Chairperson determines that it: a) relates to a matter outside the duties, functions and powers of Council; b) is defamatory, indecent, abusive, offensive, irrelevant, trivial or objectionable in language or substance; c) deals with a subject matter already answered; d) is aimed at embarrassing a councillor or a member of Council staff; e) relates to personnel matters; f) relates to the personal hardship of any resident or ratepayer; g) relates to industrial matters; h) relates to contractual matters; i) relates to proposed developments; k) relates to matters affecting the security of Council property; or j) relates to legal advice; l) relates to any other matter which Council considers would prejudice Council or any person. 61.8 Questions will be answered either at the Council meeting or as soon as possible after the Council meeting, subject to such policy or guidelines that Council may adopt from time to time. 61.9 No debate on questions asked or answers given is permitted. Questions There were four questions submitted to the meeting. A question was received from Allan Ricketts in relation to banning smoking in High Street, Wodonga. As the question was received at least ten days prior to the council meeting a written response was read out, and provided to Mr Ricketts at the end of the meeting. A question was received from Michelle Cowan in relation to road safety concerns with Felltimber Creek Road and the mountain bike trail. A written response was read out, and provided to Ms Cowan at the end of the meeting. Two questions were received from John Garratt relating to the costs for the Hills strategy and the costs for its implementation. As these questions were received just prior to the meeting, the CEO advised that a written response would be provided within seven working days. Two questions were received from Dan Humpage relating to the costs for the Hills strategy and the CFA recommendations on the strategy. As these questions were received just prior to the meeting, the CEO advised that a written response would be provided within seven working days. Trevor Ierino, Director Business Services disclosed a conflict of interest, being an indirect interest due to impact on residential amenity (section 78E of the Local Government Act, 1989), for item 15 Question time. The nature of the interest is due to residential amenity as three of the four questions submitted related to agenda item 8.11 in which Mr Ierino has declared a conflict of interest. Mr Ierino left the meeting room at 7.12pm. Mr Ierino returned to the meeting room at 7.17pm after the item was completed. Presentation of awards At this time the Mayor, assisted by Cr Quilty, presented the Young Achiever Scheme Awards for August to Elijah Amery, Elijah Hollands, and Charlotte Smith.