Deputations are an important part of community participation in the decision-making process, providing individuals or groups with 5 minutes during a meeting to raise concerns about issues in their area. Council/Committee Members are invited to ask questions after each deputation.
A Deputation can be presented to address a meeting of Council or one of its Committees in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Code of Practice - Procedure at Meetings and the Local Government (Procedures at Meetings) Regulations 2013:
- A person or persons wishing to appear as a deputation at a meeting must deliver (to the principal office of the council) a written request to the council.
- The chief executive officer must transmit a request received under subregulation (1) to the presiding member.
- The presiding member may refuse to allow the deputation to appear at a meeting.
- The chief executive officer must take reasonable steps to ensure that the person or persons who requested a deputation are informed of the outcome of the request.
- If the presiding member refuses to allow a deputation to appear at a meeting, the presiding member must report the decision to the next meeting of the council or council committee (as the case may be).
- The council or council committee may resolve to allow a deputation to appear despite a contrary ruling by the presiding member.
- A council may refer the hearing of a deputation to a council committee
How to submit a deputation request
Each deputation wishing to be heard at a meeting needs to complete the Deputation Request form. If a group applies for a deputation there is a maximum of 2 speakers sharing the allocated time for the deputation.
For the Deputation Request to be published in the next Council or Committee meeting agenda, the form must be received at least seven (7) clear days before the date of the meeting.
If the deputation relates to a matter of business on the published agenda, the Deputation Request form must be received by 10:00am on the day of the meeting.
The Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and Mayor will advise the deputee of the outcome of the request which may include the date and time of the allocated meeting. More information regarding Deputation requirements may be found in Council's Code of Practice for Meeting Procedures at Regulation 11.
Enquiries regarding Deputations may be emailed to council@mountbarker.sa.gov.au attention to the Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and Mayor.
