Changes to Council Question Time

Published on 13 March 2020

Gannawarra Shire residents have the opportunity to submit questions to Councillors during Question Time at Ordinary Council meetings.

Following a review of current practices, the Question Time process has been enhanced for both those seeking to submit a question and the Council.

“Most Victorian Council Ordinary meetings include Question Time to provide a means of community engagement in addition to face-to-face, phone, written correspondence and e-mail contact, listening posts, public forums and online requests,” Mayor Lorraine Learmonth said.

“Gannawarra Shire Council regards Question Time as an example of democracy in action, as evident in the increasing number of residents that have attended meetings in the past year, and we encourage residents to use this revised process to submit questions to Council.”

The process, which will take effect from 18 March 2020, involves:

• Questions must be submitted on a Question Time form;
• Question Time forms are available online, at the Kerang and Cohuna Customer Service Centres and in the Council Chamber foyer prior to each Ordinary Council meeting;
• Completed Question Time forms must be submitted in the Question Time box before the meeting commences;
• The person submitting the question must be in attendance; and
• Questions will be read by the Mayor or Chief Executive Officer.

“The Question Time form will provide people with guidance regarding how to frame questions to ensure greater clarity and a sufficient response from Council,” Mayor Learmonth said.

“I encourage residents to attend any of Council’s Ordinary Meetings and to stay on afterwards with Councillors and Council staff for coffee, cake and an informal chat with Councillors.”