Participate at Meetings

Public Forums

Residents are welcome to present their views about matters of Council business or of community interest through public forums.  Public forums are held at the start of the Council meeting and the Methven Community Board meeting. Presenters are given up to 5 minutes speaking time which may be followed by questions from the Council members.

Apply to participate in the Public Forum

If you wish to address a meeting through the public forum you must apply to the committee secretary by 3.00 pm of the day prior to the meeting.

You will be advised as soon as possible whether your request has been granted and provided with information about making your presentation.

You will need to provide your name, contact details and a written summary of the topic you wish to talk about.

To apply to participate in the public forum please email Council or phone (03) 307 7700.

Public Forum Guidelines

1. Requests to make a presentation through a public forum must be approved by the Chief Executive and the Mayor or Chairman of the meeting
2. Applications which are repetitious or offensive will be refused. The Chairman may terminate a speaker in progress where the subject matter is disrespectful or offensive
3. Five minutes speaking time will available to each speaker or group
4. Public forum presentations should not include criticism of individual Council members or individual staff members
5. Matters that are sub-judice may not be raised through a public forum
6. The public forum is provided for people to speak to the Council about matters of interest to them. It is not intended that presenters should question Council members on these occasions. However, Council members may ask questions of presenters to clarify their statements

Community Deputations

Council welcomes deputations from individuals or groups who wish to present their views on a matter of business on Council or committee agendas.  Deputations are heard at the beginning of discussion on the matter concerned.

While a deputation can be any number of people, only two people may address the meeting . Each group has up to 10 minutes, and this may be followed by questions from the Council members to obtain further information or to clarify any matter.

Matters able to be raised through a deputation are confined to the relevant agenda item of that meeting, provided the matter is not sub-judice.

Apply to Present a Deputation

To address a meeting through a deputation you must apply through the committee secretary at least 2 working days prior to the meeting.

You will need to provide the name and contact details of the contact person for the deputation and a written summary of the topic to be raised.

To apply to present a deputation please email Council or phone (03) 307 7700.

You will be advised as soon as possible whether your request has been granted and provided with information about making your presentation.

Deputation Guidelines

1. Requests to make a deputation must be approved by the Chief Executive and the Mayor or Chairman of the meeting
2. Applications which are repetitious or offensive will be refused. The Mayor or Chairman may terminate a speaker in progress where the subject matter is disrespectful or offensive
3. Up to ten minutes speaking time will available to each speaker or group
4. Unless approved otherwise by the Council or committee, not more than 2 members of the deputation may address the meeting
5. Deputations should not include criticism of individual Council members or individual staff members
6. Deputations are for people to speak to the Council about matters of interest to them. It is not intended that presenters should question Council members on these occasions. However, Council members may ask questions of presenters to clarify their statements.