Published on Tuesday, 4 June 2024 at 1:39:00 PM
The Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale Council has opened Question and Answer (Q&A) sessions as part of a trial to improve transparency in Council’s decision-making process.
The following remaining session is now available for SJ residents to attend:
Q&A sessions are held at the Shire’s Civic Centre at 6 Paterson Street, Mundijong, WA 6123.
Hang on… what exactly is a Q&A session?
Q&A sessions are a forum enabling Elected Members to ask questions of each other, or of Shire staff, to gain a better understanding of the items set to be deliberated on during the OCM.
These sessions are held one week before the monthly Ordinary Council Meetings and are traditionally closed to members of the public.
Why are Q&A sessions being opened to the public now?
Council has resolved to trial opening the sessions to the public in a bid to improve transparency with residents and ratepayers.
It is hoped being able to attend these sessions will provide residents with a greater understanding as to how and why certain decisions are made at Ordinary Council Meetings.
Will the public be allowed to ask questions at Q&A sessions?
No. Q&A sessions are designed to enable discussion among Elected Members and Shire staff only, and no public presentations or questions are permitted during this time.
The sessions are being opened solely to enhance transparency between Council and members of the public.
If I want to ask Council a question, how can I do that?
Members of the public may address Council during the Public Question Time and Public Statement Time periods of an Ordinary Council Meeting.
Find out more about public participation at Council meetings here.
What will happen when the three-month trial is finished?
Council will assess the results of the three-month trial once it concludes following the Q&A session on 8 July.
Following a review, a decision will then be made regarding all future Q&A sessions.
For more information, email info@sjshire.wa.gov.au or call the Shire on (08) 9526 1111.
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