Attending a council meeting held in public

To ensure that Council meetings remain safe and accessible there are a number of measures in place. Please take note of them before and during your attendance at one of our meetings that are held in public:

• Visitors are admitted on condition that they allow themselves and their belongings to be searched.
• You will be asked to sign in upon arrival and may be asked to show proof of identity.

Items not permitted at meetings

The following items are not permitted at any of our meetings:

• Sharp items e.g. knives (including Swiss army knives) scissors, cutlery and screwdrivers;
• Paint spray or similar items;
• Padlocks, chains and climbing gear;
• Items that make a noise (e.g. whistles, loud hailers, mega phones); and,
• Banners, placards and flags or similar items.

Please restrict the size of bags brought to meetings as there are no facilities for storage of bags or other personal items – all bags will be searched upon entry. You may also be subject to secondary searches once inside the meeting.

Conduct at meetings

Councillors must be able to make themselves heard on behalf of those they represent.

The Mayor or the Chair will not allow behaviour that disrupts council business.

Under the Council’s Constitution, Part 3A, Council Procedure Rules 16.2 -16.3, at any meeting of the Council, the Mayor has the power to order the removal of any member of the public who:

• interrupts the proceedings
• acts in a way that impacts the proper and orderly conduct of the meeting

In the interest of order during a meeting, the Mayor may suspend or adjourn a meeting.

We would ask that you respect these arrangements for the benefit of all those attending and participating and to ensure that Council meetings are able to proceed safely in public.