The Shire Council generally meets on the third Thursday of each month at 9:00am in the council chambers located at 3270 Chapman Valley Road, Nabawa WA 6532, with the exception of January. However, these meetings can move to other locations within the Shire in an attempt to ensure we reach out to the whole community as much as possible.

Members of the public are welcome to observe meetings and 15 minutes is set aside at the beginning of each Council meeting for "Public Question Time".

Questions requiring research are requested to be submitted at least three working days prior to the meeting to allow answers to be researched, otherwise questions may be taken on notice.

Agendas for ordinary Council meetings are available for inspection at the Shire Office or on the Shire Website from the Monday before each meeting.

Committee meetings are held as and when required.


Public Question Time

QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC (PUBLIC QUESTION TIME)

The Shire of Chapman Valley welcomes community participation during public question time as per s6.7 Standing Orders Local Law 2016.

  • A member of the public who raises a question during question time, is to state his or her name and address.
  • A question may be taken on notice by the Council for later response.
  • When a question is taken on notice the CEO is to ensure that:
  1. a response is given to the member of the public in writing; and
  2. a summary of the response is included in the agenda of the next meeting of the Council.
  • Where a question relating to a matter in which a relevant person has an interest is directed to the relevant person, the relevant person is to:
  1. declare that he or she has an interest in the matter; and
  2. allow another person to respond to the question.
  • Each member of the public with a question is entitled to ask up to 2 questions before other members of the public will be invited to ask their questions.
  • Where a member of the public provides written questions then the Presiding Member may elect for the questions to be responded to as normal business correspondence.
  • The Presiding Member may decide that a public question shall not be responded to where:
  1. the same or similar question was asked at a previous meeting, a response was provided and the member of the public is directed to the minutes of the meeting at which the response was provided;
  2. the member of the public uses public question time to make a statement, provided that the Presiding Member has taken all reasonable steps to assist the member of the public to phrase the statement as a question; or
  3. the member of the public asks a question that is offensive or defamatory in nature, provided that the Presiding Member has taken all reasonable steps to assist the member of the public to phrase the question in a manner that is not offensive or defamatory.
  • A member of the public shall have two minutes to submit a question.
  • The Council, by resolution, may agree to extend public question time.
  • Where an answer to a question is given at a meeting, a summary of the question and the answer is to be included in the minutes.

The Meeting Procedure Standing Order Local Law 2016 is available on the Shire of Chapman Valley website, under Documents/Local Laws.

GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC QUESTIONS

The following is a guide to assist you on the process of Public Question Time. You can submit questions using the Public Question Time Form attached or by email to cso@chapmanvalley.wa.gov.au or hand them to the minute secretary on the day.

  1. Please Note: Where a member of the public provides written questions and is not present at the meeting, the Presiding Member may elect for the questions to be responded to as “normal business correspondence” and the question/response will not appear in the Council Minutes.
  2. This is a “question” time only. Orations, explanations, or statements of belief will not be accepted or allowed.
  3. Questions must relate to a matter affecting the Shire of Chapman Valley.
  4. Questions must be appropriate and made in good Those containing defamatory remarks, offensive language or question the competency or personal affairs of council members or employees may be ruled inappropriate by the President or Presiding Member and therefore not considered.
  5. Frame your questions so that it is both precise and yet fully understood. Long questions covering a multitude of subjects are easily misunderstood and can result in poor replies being given.
  6. Write you question(s) down on the attached form; it helps you to express the question clearly and provides staff with an accurate record of exactly what you want to know.
  7. When the President calls for any questions from the public, stand up and wait until you are acknowledged and invited to speak. Please start by giving your name and address first, and then ask the question.
  8. Questions to be put to the Presiding Member and answered by the Council. No questions can be put to individual Councillors.
  9. The question time will be very early in the meeting. There is only 15 minutes available for Question Time. Questions not asked may still be submitted to the meeting and will be responded to by mail. The Council, by resolution, may agree to extend public question time.
  10. When you have put your question, await the If possible, the President will answer directly or invite a staff member with special knowledge to answer in his place. Complex questions that require research, may be Taken on Notice by the Mayor and an answer will be forwarded to you in writing. Please Note under NO circumstances, will the question(s) be debated or discussed by Council at that meeting.
  11. To maximise public participation each person can ask up to two (2)
  12. To fill out the form, just enter your name and address in the appropriate areas together with details of any group you are representing, then write out your questions.
  13. Please ensure your form is submitted to the meeting secretary. 

If you have difficulty in writing the question(s), Shire staff are available on request to assist in this task.

We hope this assists you the asking of your question(s) and thank-you for your interest and participation in the affairs of our Shire.

Council Meeting Dates