the language is clear and unambiguous; the terms are plain and non-technical and can be understood by elected members and the public; constructed simply and if necessary, set out in sections that can be clearly identified by letters or numbers; indicate proposed action or reflect agreed views on a particular issue; clearly indicate who is responsible for any action, and if appropriate, expected time of action and outcome, and reporting back requirements; and it is not a re-introduced motion which has already been rejected and would therefore require specific treatment. The following example of an adopted resolution has many of the necessary features: council resolves that the CEO writes to the State Treasurer to seek long-term ‘That funding in the upcoming State budget for regional transport infrastructure investment.’ All reports to Council or a Committee will include a draft recommendation. In most cases this will become the motion which will be put to Council for debate. However, a councillor may choose to move a motion other than the recommendation. Officer’s 8.4 Motion not accepted by the Presiding Member The guiding rule is that no motion should be put or passed unless it is within the scope of the notice of meeting and the agenda (order of business). It is the presiding role to ensure that motions are within the jurisdiction. Therefore member’s meeting’s the presiding member would be expected to rule a motion as out of order if it: is unclear and vague in its language; is the direct negative of a motion just passed by the meeting; is inconsistent with a formal motion just adopted; is unnecessary in that it proposes a course of action or policy already resolved upon by the meeting; proposes an action that is unlawful;
the language is clear and unambiguous; the terms are plain and non-technical and can be understood by elected members and the public; constructed simply and if necessary, set out in sections that can be clearly identified by letters or numbers; indicate proposed action or reflect agreed views on a particular issue; clearly indicate who is responsible for any action, and if appropriate, expected time of action and outcome, and reporting back requirements; and it is not a re-introduced motion which has already been rejected and would therefore require specific treatment. The following example of an adopted resolution has many of the necessary features: ‘That council resolves that the CEO writes to the State Treasurer to seek long-term funding in the upcoming State budget for regional transport infrastructure investment.’ All reports to Council or a Committee will include a draft recommendation. In most cases this will become the motion which will be put to Council for debate. However, a councillor may choose to move a motion other than the Officer’s recommendation. 8.4 Motion not accepted by the Presiding Member The guiding rule is that no motion should be put or passed unless it is within the scope of the notice of meeting and the agenda (order of business). It is the presiding member’s role to ensure that motions are within the meeting’s jurisdiction. Therefore the presiding member would be expected to rule a motion as out of order if it: is unclear and vague in its language; is the direct negative of a motion just passed by the meeting; is inconsistent with a formal motion just adopted; is unnecessary in that it proposes a course of action or policy already resolved upon by the meeting; proposes an action that is unlawful;
Guide_to_Meetings.docx