Important information - General Meeting of Electors, 16 March 2022

Published on Monday, 14 March 2022 at 3:44:07 PM

Please see information below regarding the General Meeting of Electors to be held on Wednesday, 16 March 2022 at 6:30pm:

The meeting will be held in the Shire’s Civic Centre, 6 Paterson Street, Mundijong.

As Western Australia is now in Level 2 public health and social measures the Civic Centre’s capacity will be limited to 100 people. Attendance to the meeting will be on a first come/first serve basis.

Face masks must be worn for people attending the meeting.

People attending the meeting must check in via the SAFE WA or Service WA app or register using the paper based form.

The agenda for the meeting is available here.

FAQs about the meeting are available below.

How many people can attend?

As Western Australian has entered stage two public health restrictions, the capacity of the building will be 100 people in keeping with the 2m2 meeting rule used for similar buildings and events.

Why isn’t the meeting being held on an oval where more people could attend?

This option was explored but making suitable arrangements would be costly. In addition, some of the ovals which have the required lighting are already in use for other events and community sport.

Can I register to attend?

No, the Shire is not taking registrations or tickets to attend.

Will proof of vaccination be required to attend?

No.

Will masks be required to be worn?

Yes, in accordance with legislation.

Will attendees be required to check-in using SAFE WA or paper based form?

Yes, in accordance with legislation.

Do you need to be an elector in the district to vote?

Yes, in accordance with legislation. Attendees will be asked to confirm that they are eligible to vote in accordance with legislation to be provided a voting card which will be used during the meeting.

Do you need to be an elector in the district to speak at the meeting?

No, but in accordance with legislation only electors are permitted to vote.

Is there an Agenda for the meeting?

Yes, an Agenda was published on the Shire’s website on 9 March 2022 and is available here.

Who runs the meeting?

The Presiding Member for a General Meeting of Electors is the Shire President, or if the President is unavailable, the Deputy President may be delegated this responsibility.

If the Deputy President is also unavailable to preside, the Electors present at the meeting choose a Councillor to preside. If the Councillor nominated is unable or unwilling to preside, the Electors may choose someone else to preside.

What can I do at a General Meeting of Electors?

The meeting agenda provides for public question and public statement time. Information about public participation is available here.

If you are an elector and have registered to vote at the General Meeting of Electors, you can move what’s called a ‘motion’ at the meeting and you can vote on your or anyone else’s motion.

Moving a ‘motion’ means you are asking the Council to undertake some kind of action, for example, to adopt a report, to undertake works, to stop works and so on.

The Presiding member will call for a seconder. If you receive a ‘seconder’ for your motion, or in other words, the support of another person for your motion, the Presiding Member of the General Meeting of Electors will ask those in attendance if anyone would like to debate the motion and then, votes for or against on the motion will be taken.

I’m registered, how do I vote at a General Meeting of Electors?

Voting at a General Meeting of Electors is by a simple show of hands. You will be asked to raise your voting slip you are ‘for’ a motion being passed, or if you are ‘against’ a motion being passed.

Shire staff will count all votes when the vote is called, so please ensure you keep your voting slip raised until your vote has been counted.

You do not have to vote on any motion if you do not wish to do so.

I can’t make the meeting, can someone else vote for me or can I post my vote in?

No. You must be in attendance at a General Meeting of Electors to be able to have your vote counted.

What is the process at a General Meeting of Electors?

The Presiding Member is responsible for deciding how the meeting will be run, however, as a general guide, the Presiding Member will:

  1. open the meeting and allow time for any final registrations to vote;
  2. advise all in attendance of the purpose of the meeting;
  3. facilitate debate, if any, on any motion; and
  4. seek a show of hands for those in favour or against any motion.

What happens with motions passed at a General Meeting of Electors?

All decisions made at Electors’ Meetings are brought before the Council for consideration either at the next Ordinary Council Meeting, or if that’s not possible, the subsequent Council meeting. Otherwise, the Council can call a Special Council Meeting for this purpose.

For a decision made at an Electors’ Meeting to become a decision of the Council, the Council must agree to it.

If Council makes a decision in response to a decision made at an Electors’ Meeting, the reasons for the decision are recorded in the minutes of the Council meeting.

Will I be able to get a copy of the minutes of the General Meeting of Electors?

Yes. The Shire takes minutes of the proceedings of all Electors’ Meetings. These are published and made publicly available.

Will the meeting be recorded?

No.

 

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