Public Forum
About the Public Forum
Council provides a public forum for residents to present views about matters of Council business or that are matters of community interest.
Matters able to be raised through a public forum are confined to the terms of reference of the meeting, and provided the matter is not sub-judice.
The public forum is held at the beginning of a meeting. Presenters are given up to 5 minutes speaking time which may be followed by questions to obtain further information or to clarify any matter.
Applying to Participate in the Public Forum
If you wish to address a meeting in the public forum you must apply through the committee secretary by 3 pm of the day prior to the meeting. You will need to provide your name, contact details and a written summary of the topic you wish to talk about, email phillipa.clark@adc.govt.nz or contact Phillipa on 03 307 7700.
You will be advised as soon as possible whether your request has been granted and provided with information about making your presentation.
Public Forum Guidelines
(a) Requests to make a presentation through a public forum must be approved by the Chief Executive and the Mayor or Chairman of the meeting
(b) Applications which are repetitious or offensive will be refused. The Chairman may terminate a speaker in progress where the subject matter is disrespectful or offensive
(c) Five minutes speaking time will available to each speaker or group
(d) Public forum presentations should not include criticism of individual Council members or individual staff members
(e) Matters that are sub-judice may not be raised through a public forum
(f) The public forum is provided for people to speak to the Council about matters of interest to them. It is not intended that presenters should question Council members on these occasions. However, Council members may ask questions of presenters to clarify their statements.
Take Advantage of the Public Forum
Council’s public forum has provided a number of individuals and groups with the opportunity to speak on issues of interest or concern which are not necessarily confined to the meeting’s agenda on the day.
The topics have varied and the public forum has been an effective way of raising awareness of projects and developments taking place in the community as well addressing issues of concern such as traffic safety.
Council encourages residents to take advantage of the public forum as part of making local democracy more accessible.
Community Deputations
Council provides for deputations to be received at Council or Committee meetings on matters of business on a meeting agenda. This enables a group of residents to present their views on a matter to be considered at the meeting.
Deputations are heard at the beginning of discussion on the matter concerned. Deputations may have up to 10 minutes speaking time which may be followed by questions to obtain further information or to clarify any matter.
Matters able to be raised through a deputation are confined to the relevant agenda item of that meeting, provided the matter is not sub-judice.
If you wish to address a meeting through a deputation you must apply through the committee secretary by 3 pm the day prior to the meeting, providing your name, contact details and a written summary of the topic you wish to talk about, email phillipa.clark@adc.govt.nz or contact Phillipa on 03 307 7700.
You will be advised as soon as possible whether your request has been granted and provided with information about making your presentation.
Deputation Guidelines
(a) Requests to make a deputation must be approved by the Chief Executive and the Mayor or Chairman of the meeting
(b) Applications which are repetitious or offensive will be refused. The Mayor or Chairman may terminate a speaker in progress where the subject matter is disrespectful or offensive
(c) Ten minutes speaking time will available to each speaker or group
(d) Unless approved otherwise by the Council or the Committee, not more than 2 members of the deputation may address the meeting
(e) Deputations should not include criticism of individual Council members or individual staff members
(f) Deputations are for people to speak to the Council about matters of interest to them. It is not intended that presenters should question Council members on these occasions. However, Council members may ask questions of presenters to clarify their statements.