Public Notice: Common Seal and Conduct at Meetings Local Law No. 1 of 2020

Notice is given that Whittlesea City Council (Council) proposes to make a local law titled 'Common Seal and Conduct at Meetings Local Law No. 1 of 2020' (the proposed Local Law).

The following information about the proposed Local Law is provided in accordance with section 119 of the Local Government Act 1989 (Act):

Purpose of the proposed Local Law

If made, the purposes of the proposed Local Law will be to:

• revoke Council’s Procedural Matters Local Law (No. 1 of 2018);
• regulate the use of the Common Seal; and
• create offences relating to conduct at Meetings.

General Purport of the proposed Local Law

If made, the proposed Local Law will:

• provide for the proper use of Council’s Common Seal; and
• create offences relating to conduct at Meetings, specifically:
• affixing the Common Seal, or a device resembling the Common Seal, to a document other than in accordance with the proposed Local Law;
• when called on by the Chairperson twice to do so, failing to satisfactorily apologise for not withdrawing a remark which is defamatory, indecent, abusive, offensive or disorderly in language, substance or nature;
• failing to leave a Meeting when directed by the Chairperson to do so; and
• failing to obey a direction of the Chairperson relating to conduct of a Meeting.

Any person may make a written submission relating to the proposed Local Law.  All submissions received by Council on or before 4.00 pm on 11 November 2020 will be considered in accordance with section 223 of the Act.  Submitters should note that all submissions are made available to the public in the Council Meeting Agenda and Minutes.  Your name, title and the contents of your submission will be made public but no other personal information will be disclosed. Any person making a submission is entitled to request (in the submission itself) to be heard in support of the submission by appearing before an Advisory Committee (either personally or by a person acting on his or her behalf). If there are any adjustments we can make to assist you to actively participate in making your submission or speaking to your submission, please inform Council’s Governance Department on 9217 2406. The date and location of the Submission Hearing will be notified. 

Submissions should be marked ‘S.223 Submission on proposed Common Seal and Conduct at Meetings Local Law No. 1 of 2020’ and sent to Council at City of Whittlesea, Locked Bag 1, Bundoora, Vic 3083 or emailed to info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Enquiries should be directed to info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

A copy of the proposed Local Law and the explanatory Community Impact Statement are available below.