Public Question Time

The Buloke Shire Council offers the public an opportunity to be involved in Council meetings through Public Question Time.

This agenda item enables the public to address questions to Councillors regarding municipal issues. Council's Governance Rules 2022 establishes the process to be followed with the intention that Public Question Time provide additional opportunities for the public to:

• ask questions about Council decisions and actions;
• enquire about the attitude of Council or a Councillor on specific Council matters;
• obtain timely information and answers to simple questions that do not require detailed responses and without the need for reports and correspondence. 

The Governance Rules 2022 requires that a person requesting to ask a question through an ordinary Council meeting must complete the provided form found below and return it to the Chief Executive Officer (or nominated person) by no later than 1:00pm on the day of the Council Meeting.

All forms emailed should be done so to Councils records department via: buloke@buloke.vic.gov.au

Emails should be clearly labelled as Public Question Time Request within the subject line of the email, with attention to the CEO. An automatic reply will be sent to your email as confirmation of your submission. Forms submitted to an individual staff member or alternate email address risk not being captured and included within the meeting preparation. For forms submitted in person via Council's Customer Service Centre or via postal service, Council will endeavor to capture all questions with the intent to answer them within the Council meeting, however this cannot always be guaranteed. Questions unable to be answered within the Council meeting, will be read out for the meeting and then answered within 10 business days following the meeting.    

Questions and answers must be as brief as possible and must not exceed 2 minutes in duration. No debate or discussion of a question or an answer is permitted other than for the purposes of clarification. 

The provision of Public Question Time is set out in full, within Council's Governance Rules 2022 and includes the criteria for which the Chairperson (Mayor) will determine the question appropriate (or not) for inclusion within the meeting. 

Please word your question carefully, as it will be included within the minutes of the meeting exactly as it is written. Please note that Public Question Time does not substitute for appeal and review systems, formal business procedures, formal Council decisions and other legal processes required for the proper transaction of business within the Buloke Shire Council. 

More detailed information about Public Question Time can be found under Section 102 of Council's Governance Rules 2022.

Public Participation Form

Public Question Time Form

Public Question Time Form - WORD VERSION