Council to consider livestreaming, suspending question time at meeting

Published on 22 April 2020

Colac Otway Shire Council will consider a motion at next Wednesday’s April Ordinary Council meeting to allow the meeting to be live-streamed to the public and also suspend question time.

The recommendations were made to Councillors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, in accordance with the Chief Health Officer of Victoria’s Direction to the public to stay home where possible.

If the recommendation to livestream goes ahead, members of the public will be able to view the monthly Ordinary Council meeting on Council’s YouTube channel and questions to Council will be accepted and responded to in writing.

Colac Otway Shire Council Chief Executive Officer Peter Brown said Council had advised members of the public that only Councillors and Council staff would be permitted to attend the monthly Ordinary Council meeting.

 “The current COVID-19 situation has required our community and Council to adapt and change in order to reduce risk of contracting or spreading the virus.

“We understand there are many items to be heard by Council that are of interest to our Colac Otway community and we hope by live-streaming the meeting and taking written questions we can still provide the public with the opportunity to be involved, albeit remotely,” Mr Brown said.

“While members of the community are being asked to stay at home during this time, we’re proposing questions be submitted to Council in writing by 5pm on the Monday prior to the meeting - that being Monday April 20.

“If this recommendation proceeds, written questions will then be responded to within 7 days of the meeting with the question and answer included in the meeting minutes. This process would remain in place until the Directions of the Chief Health Officer of Victoria are revoked.

“Community input is integral to Council operation. We encourage people to continue to be involved by accessing online resources, while staying home and staying safe.”