Just two months into the three-month trial of a change to the public forum held prior to each ordinary meeting, Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart has abandoned it.
The trial saw the public forum, traditionally held immediately before the Tuesday evening ordinary meeting, moved to the Monday evening prior to the meeting.
It began in May, with just one speaker registered to speak.
In its second month, again just one speaker spoke at the public forum on June 26 prior to the June 27 meeting – and that speaker was not addressing any of the items on the meeting agenda.
At the June 27 meeting, Hart announced the trial would be abandoned.
Hart said he had “heard what the community had to say” and had decided to cancel the trial in light of public sentiment.
Many residents had complained that holding the forum at Wyong on a separate night to the meeting was becoming increasingly difficult for those wishing to speak, particularly those from the southern end of the region.
Hart expressed regret that the community hadn’t responded to the “benefit” of a longer speaking time allocation.
But in reinstating the Tuesday public forum immediately prior to the ordinary meeting, he stressed that disruptive behaviour would not be tolerated.
“Having groups of people (at the public forum) before the meeting encouraged poor behaviour,” he said.
“It was much like Question Time in Parliament – and that is the antithesis of what good governance is about.”
Hart also stressed that there are “clear boundaries” on his role and he could not personally intervene on operational matters.
Source:
Central Coast Council meeting, Jun 27