At each meeting of Hume City Council, members of the public can submit written questions for council staff to answer. Approved questions are answered by council staff who read carefully prepared statements.
There were three public questions at the Monday 27 October meeting…
Q1: How many community facilities existed in the Yubup Ward in 2016, versus how many facilities existed in the Roxburgh Park Ward at the same time.
Response: In 2016 there were no community centres or venues in Yubup Ward as this was still a greenfield, with approximately 3,300 residents.
In 2016 there were 3 facilities in the Roxburgh Park Ward and a population of just under 22,000 people. The community facilities were the:
- Homestead Community & Learning Centre
- Roxburgh Park Youth and Recreation Centre
- Bluebird Way Child & Family Centre
Q2: I heard from someone who used to be on the Council who said there’s a “Councillor enquiry,” where Councillors can raise issues or questions with staff on behalf of residents. I was wanting to know how many of those enquiries each Councillor has made in their time as a Councillor as it’s often hard to reach many when there is an issue in the community?
Response: Under the Local Government Act, communication between staff and Councillors is governed by a CEO protocol.
The term Councillor Enquiries is an internal support to manage requests under this protocol. It includes all requests for information from Councillors, including issues raised on behalf of residents. Data is not available which differentiates between enquiries that are general information requests and those that are related to issues or questions on behalf of residents.
Q3: Could Council share how many general business items and notices of motion eachCouncillor has put forward in service as a Councillor? I think it would help residents see who’s putting up ideas and raising issues through the formal process.
Response: Councillors contribute to the decision making and good governance of Hume through active participation in Council meetings and by engaging with the community.
Raising issues, asking questions and contributing to the development of Council strategy happens in a range of forums often outside Council meetings and officers would note that notices of motion alone do not reflect the holistic contribution a Councillor makes in serving the community.
General business items were removed from Council’s Governance Rules in 2022.
The number of Notices of Motions submitted by Councillors in this current term of Council since November last year are as follows:
- Daniel English 3
- Jarrod Bell 3
- Steve Gagen 2
- John Haddad 5
- Kate Hamley 5
- Naim Kurt 17
- Sam Misho 12
- Carly Moore 4
- Jim Overend 5
- Karen Sherry 4
- Ally Watson 3
