Public Forums

• A maximum of 30 minutes is permitted for each public forum.
• Speakers are limited to a five minute address. If required, a speaker may be granted an extension of a further two minutes.  A speakers time may be reduced to allow a maximum number of speakers with the public forum
• Speakers may only address the Council on the Agenda item that they have applied to speak on and must not digress.
• A Councillor may ask questions of a speaker, however, speakers are under no obligation to answer such questions.  Questions put to a speaker must ne direct, succinct and without argument.
• Speakers at public forums cannot ask questions of the Council, Councillors or Council staff.
• The General Manager, Executive Director or their delegate may refuse an application to speak at a public forum.
• No more than two (2) speakers are to be permitted to speak on each item of business on the Agenda for the Council Meeting.  
• Legal representatives acting on behalf of others are not permitted to speak at a public forum unless they identify their status as a legal representative when applying to speak at the public forum.
• Members of the public in the gallery may not approach a Councillor at any time during a meeting.
• Speakers must comply with Council’s Code of Meeting Practice and refrain from engaging in disorderly conduct, publicly alleging breaches of the Code of Conduct or making other potentially defamatory statements.

Approved speakers at a public forum are to register with Council any written, visual or audio material to be presented in support of their address and to also identify any equipment needs by midday on the day of the public forum.  

The General Manager, Executive Director or their delegate may refuse to allow such material to be presented.

A person or persons may, with the approval of the General Manager, make a presentation for a maximum duration of 15 minutes, to a meeting of the Council.

An application to make a presentation to a meeting of the Council must be received by the General Manager no later than ten (10) business days prior to a meeting of the Council if the presentation is to be included as an item on the agenda for that meeting.

The inclusion of a presentation as an item on the agenda for a meeting of the Council is at the General Manager’s ultimate discretion.

To request the opportunity to make a presentation, contact Singleton Council via email at council@singleton.nsw.gov.au on T 02 6578 7290.

Information or documentation that is not included in the business papers for an item on the agenda for a Council meeting (other than a meeting of Closed Council) may be provided by a Council Officer, a Councillor or member of the public to Councillors for consideration in relation to an item on the agenda.

Anyone can attend a Council meeting and watch the proceedings from the Public Gallery. Members of the public cannot participate in a Council meeting, and must remain silent at all times. Members of the public must remain within the area designated as the Public Gallery and are not permitted to occupy space within the Council Chamber allocated for Councillors, representatives of the media or staff members.

A person in the public gallery may not approach a Councillor at any time during a meeting.

Any act of disorder may result in expulsion from the meeting in accordance with the Code of Meeting Practice.

The objective of the Code of Meeting Practice is to ensure that meetings of Council are conducted in a consistent, accessible, orderly, effective and efficient manner.