Community advocates oppose public forum change
Three community advocates from the Peninsula have signed a joint statement with five others opposing the Council's Public Forum being moved from immediately prior to the Council meeting to the day before.
They are Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president Mr Matthew Wales, Australian Conservation Foundation Central Coast Branch president Mr Mark Ellis and community activist Mr Norm Harris of Umina.
"Council is seeking to reduce the impact of the public forum on Council meetings," according to the joint signatories, all of whom have spoken in the Public Forum in the last three months.
"With local democracy suspended, the Public Forum held immediately before each Council meeting has provided a rare opportunity for residents to hold Council senior management accountable and seek to influence Council decisions."
Following the change, "residents will have to attend two meetings rather than one, and the process will cost more".
The statement said that, other than changing the day, "none of the trial changes are new", according to the statement.
"Addressing items not on the agenda was previously allowed.
"Technology such as Zoom was used during Covid lockdowns.
"Five-minute speeches have also been allowed in the past before being reduced to three minutes.
"All the changes could easily be added to the current Forum held on the same day as the Council meeting - as they have been in the past."
The signatories stated the change was made without a Council resolution or accompanying report, and did not comply with the Council's current Public Forum Policy.
"This policy, which has not been amended or suspended, states that any Forum should be held on the same day as the Council meeting."
They said the three-month trial of the new arrangement was also not allowed in the current Public Forum Policy.
"When those who govern us believe their own policies do not apply to them, this is a slippery slope towards arbitrary government," the statement said.
The only written explanation of the change appears to have been given in a council media release issued on Wednesday, May 17, but is not listed amongst others on the council's website.
In the release, council's corporate services director Ms Marissa Racomelara said the change would "increase the opportunity for community members to have their say on matters presented at Central Coast Council's Ordinary Council meetings, and to also provide more time for Council staff to consider their feedback".
She said the three-month trial aimed "to give more community members more time to speak during the Public Forum".
Administrator Mr Rik Hart said in the release: "I'm keen to hear feedback from our community throughout this trial period and the community will have the opportunity to do so during the engagement process."
No details were given of the "engagement process".
The release did not state how the trial could be conducted without a change of policy.
However, part of the council website which refers to public forums states: "The current trial will likely lead to changes to Council's Public Forum Policy.
"A draft updated policy will be placed on exhibition for community feedback during the trial."
As of yesterday, Sunday, May 28, no draft policy was available on the council's YourVoiceOurCoast website.