Ratepayers or residents wishing to submit a Petition can do so by completing the form. The receiving of a Petition is to be in accordance with the Town's Local Law Relating to Standing Orders, which states:
"2.24 Petitions
(1) A petition, in order to be effective, is to:
(a) be addressed to the Mayor, Town or Chief Executive Officer;
(b) be made by a person;
(c) state the request on each page of the petition;
(d) contain the names, addresses and signatures of the persons making the request, and the date each person signed;
(e) contain a summary of the reasons for the request;
(f) state the name of the person upon whom, and an address at which, notice to the petitioners can be given;
(g) be in the form prescribed by the Act and Local Government (Constitution) Regulations 1996 if that is:
(i) a proposal to change the method of filling the office of the Mayor, Town or Chief Executive Officer;
(ii) a proposal to create a new district or the boundaries of the Local Government;
(iii) a request for a poll on a recommended amalgamation;
(iv) a submission about changes to wards, the name of a district or ward or the number of councillors for a district or ward; and
(h) be respectful and temperate in its language and not contain language disrespectful to the Council.
(2) Every petition complying with sub-clause (1) shall be presented to the Council by the CEO.
(3) The presentation of a petition shall be confined to the reading of the petition.
(4) The only motions that are in order are:
(a) that the petition be received; or
(b) that the petition be received and a report be prepared; or
(c) that the petition be received and be referred to a committee for consideration and report; or
(d) that the petition be received and be dealt with by the Council."
The Petition should be sent to the Chief Executive Officer, either in hard copy (PO Box 82, Leederville WA 6902) or electronically.
Petitions, which are in order, will be submitted to the next Ordinary Council Meeting. This involves reading the Petition (or a summary version) at the meeting. A report is then prepared by the Town's Administration for the consideration of the Council. This normally takes 3-6 weeks, depending upon the matters to be researched etc.
Persons wishing to Petition the Council for a Special Meeting of Electors are strongly encouraged to contact the Town's Chief Executive Officer (9273 6001 or email) for advice concerning the matter.
Generally, the following procedures will apply to a Special Meeting of Electors:
1. This matter is prescribed by the Local Government Act 1995 (Sections 5.27-5.33) and Local Government (Administration) Regulations 1996 (Regulations 16-18).
2. Upon receiving of the required number of Electors on Form 1, the Mayor will convene a meeting - which must be held within 35 days of the receipt of the Petition. The meeting time, date and venue is required to be advertised on a local basis in a newspaper circulating in the Town (e.g. community newspaper or The West Australian), a minimum of fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting date.
3. Only matters specified in the Electors' Petition can be discussed at the meeting.
4. Only Electors are entitled to vote at the meeting. Names and addresses will be checked upon arrival at the meeting. With the permission of the Presiding Member, non-Electors can speak (but not vote). Electors will be provided with an "Elector Voting Paper". Voting is not compulsory. All decisions are to be made by a Simple Majority of votes. Secret voting is not permitted.
5. Minutes of the Meeting will be kept and made available for public inspection, five (5) days after the meeting date.
The meeting procedure is prescribed by Section 5.31 of the Local Government Act 1995 and Regulation 18 of the Local Government (Administration) Regulations 1996. The Presiding Member/Mayor will Chair the Meeting, in accordance with Section 5.30(1) of the Act.
The following procedures will normally apply to the meeting (unless changed by the Presiding Member):
1. Opening.
2. Welcome and Introduction.
3. Apologies.
4. Business to be discussed - as stated in Form 1.
5. Questions and Answers:
- Speakers to state their name and address.
- Maximum speaking time per person is three (3) minutes.
6. Speakers "For" and "Against" alternatively / Consideration of Motions (if any).
7. Close.
Decisions made at a Special Meeting of Electors are required to be submitted to and considered at the next Ordinary Meeting of the Council.