Introduction - Public Question Time

You can use this form to ask a question at a Council meeting. It takes about 5-10 minutes to complete this form.

You will need to:
- Tell us your contact information, the questions you would like to ask, and submission details
- Understand Council’s Governance Rules (Division 8 – Public Question Time) and Privacy Statement
After you submit this form:
- We will send you an email confirming we have received your submission
- We may contact you about your submission if required
What happens with your information?
We record your information on our customer database and make it available to relevant Council staff in line with City of Boroondara Privacy Statementopens in new window

Your full name * Required
Given name(s) Family name
Name of your organisation (if applicable)
Would you like to include your full name in the minutes? * Required
- Yes
- No
Your email address * Required
Your phone number * Required
Your residential address * Required
Suburb / City

Privacy Statement * Required
The personal information requested on this form is being collected by Council for the purpose of hearing public questions at a Council meeting and to enable subsequent communication with questioners as required.

The information will be used by Council for these primary purposes or directly related purposes.

The information may also be used to update Council’s customer databases to assist Council in discharging its functions or providing services.

Council may disclose the question and personal information to the general public during the meeting.

The question and the questioner's first name, surname initial and suburb may also be published in the public minutes of the meeting.

The information provided will not otherwise be disclosed without consent unless required by law.

Providing a name and address is a requirement of Council's Governance Rules and questions may be disallowed if this information is not collected.

Requests for access to and/or amendment of the information provided may be made to Council’s Privacy Officer.
- I have read and understand Council's Privacy Statement
Meeting Procedure * Required
Extract from Governance Rules (Meeting Procedure Local Law) - Division 8 - Public Question Time
- 54. Submission of Questions
  - 54.1. There shall be a public question time of up to 15 minutes
    duration at every Council meeting to allow members of the public
    to submit questions to Council; unless Council resolves
    otherwise.
    
    54.1.1. The time allocation of 15 minutes may be extended by
    resolution of Council.
    
    54.1.2. All questions not dealt with due to time constraints
    will be responded to via a letter from Council.
  - 54.2. A person may submit a maximum of two (2) questions at any
    one (1) Council meeting.
  - 54.3. As to the form of questions:
    
    54.3.1. subject to Rule 54.3.4, questions must be in writing
    and in English:
    
    54.3.2. questions must be 100 words or less and not include
    a preamble, other additional material, or multiple parts;
    
    54.3.3. questions should be submitted on the designated
    Public Question Time Form which is available:
    
    54.3.3.1. during normal office hours at the Camberwell
    Offices at 8 Inglesby Road Camberwell; or
    
    54.3.3.2. on Council's website
    
    54.3.4. where the requirements to present a question in
    writing and or in English unreasonably prevents or hinders
    participation in public question time, assistance with
    submitting questions is available from Council, via an
    interpreter service if required.
  - 54.4. As to the deadline for questions:
    
    54.4.1. questions should be received by Council by 12:00
    noon on the day of the Council meeting to receive a verbal
    response at the meeting;
    
    54.4.2. questions received after 12:00 noon on the day of
    the meeting will receive a verbal response if possible, but
    will otherwise be taken on notice for a written response to
    be provided.
    
    54.4.3. questions must be submitted:
    
    54.4.3.1. by mail to Council's advertised postal
    address; or
    
    54.4.3.2. by email to Council's advertised email
    address; or
    
    54.4.3.3. in person during normal office hours at the
    Camberwell Offices at 8 Inglesby Road, Camberwell.
    
    54.4.3.4. after normal office hours on the day of the
    meeting if submitted in person prior to the commencement
    of the Council meeting in the receptacle designated for
    such purpose at 8 Inglesby Road, Camberwell.
- 55. Questions may be disallowed
  - 55.1. Considering the general rights of citizens to take part in
    the conduct of Council affairs, a question may be disallowed by
    the Chairperson, if in the opinion of the Chairperson it:
    
    55.1.1. is not submitted in accordance with this Division;
    
    55.1.2. relates to a matter outside the duties, functions
    and powers of Council;
    
    55.1.3. may reasonably be considered to be defamatory,
    indecent, abusive, offensive, irrelevant, trivial or
    objectionable in language or substance;
    
    55.1.4. deals with a subject matter already answered at the
    Council meeting;
    
    55.1.5. is aimed at embarrassing a Councillor or a member of
    Council staff;
    
    55.1.6. relates to personnel matters;
    
    55.1.7. relates to the personal hardship of any resident or
    ratepayer;
    
    55.1.8. relates to industrial matters;
    
    55.1.9. relates to contractual matters;
    
    55.1.10. relates to proposed developments;
    
    55.1.11. relates to legal advice;
    
    55.1.12. relates to matters affecting the security of
    Council property; or
    
    55.1.13. relates to any other matter which Council considers
    would prejudice Council or any person.
    
    55.1.14. would require, on the advice of the Chief Executive
    Officer, an unreasonable diversion of Council resources to
    prepare a response for public question time.
  - 55.2. If a question is not disallowed under sub-Rule 55.1, the
    Chairperson may then accept a question if:
    
    55.2.1. it relates to a matter or matters on the agenda for
    the current Council meeting; and/or
    
    55.2.2. the person has first asked the question in writing
    to a Councillor or a member of Council staff more than 10
    working days before the Council meeting at which the
    question is submitted.
  - 55.3. If a question is not disallowed under sub-Rules 55.1 or 55.2:
    
    55.3.1. the Chairperson may still disallow a question if,
    subject to sub-Rule 55.3.3, the person asking the same is
    not in the gallery at the time it is due to be read;
    
    55.3.2. The Chairperson may, subject to sub-Rule 55.3.3,
    permit a representative to attend or read a question on
    behalf of a person who is unable to attend the meeting, or
    read a question, because of a personal characteristic or
    attribute protected by law, such as (but not limited to)
    having a disability, their age or status as a carer;
    
    55.3.3. the Chairperson shall not exercise his or her
    discretion to permit a representative in accordance with
    sub-Rule 55.3.2 on the ground of inconvenience alone.
  - 55.4. Questions disallowed by the Chairperson shall be made
    available to any Councillor on request.
  - 55.5. Questions may be disallowed by the Chairperson prior to
    the commencement of a Council meeting
- I have read and understood Council’s Governance Rules.

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