Council Meetings

Coronavirus and Council Meetings

Given the current COVID circumstances in greater Melbourne in accordance with section 394 of the Local Government Act 2020 scheduled Council Meetings will be held entirely online and livestreamed until further notice. 

Residents and ratepayers of the City of Whittlesea may submit questions up to three hours prior to the advertised commencement time of a scheduled Council Meeting. 

If you wish to attend the Council Meeting to speak to your questions, please email info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or complete the public question time form available below.

You are not required to participate online or attend the Council Meeting in person for your question to be read out and a response provided at the meeting.  

You can watch the Council Meetings live using the City of Whittlesea YouTube channel, or view it online here. 

Live stream

You can now see how decisions are made by watching our Council Meetings live on YouTube.

You can turn on closed captions by clicking the “CC” icon at the bottom of the YouTube videos.

You'll also be able to view the meeting the next day as the link will remain on our website for at least a year.

*Read the disclaimer

Meeting agendas and minutes

• Agendas are available Thursday afternoon prior to the meeting.
• Minutes are available from 10am the Monday after the Council Meeting.

Meeting dates

2022

• 31 January 2022 - this meeting will be held online and livestreamed to YouTube.
• 21 February 2022 - Council Chamber, Council Offices, 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang - 6.30pm
• 21 March 2022 - Whittlesea Community Activity Centre, 57 Laurel Street Whittlesea - 7.30pm (Community Forum to be held prior to the meeting)
• 11 April 2022 - Council Chamber, Council Offices, 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang - 6.30pm
• 16 May 2022 - Council Chamber, Council Offices, 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang - 6.30pm
• 27 June 2022 - Barry Road Community Activity Centre, 36 Barry Road, Thomastown - 7.30pm (Community Forum to be held prior to the meeting)
• 18 July 2022 - Council Chamber, Council Offices, 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang - 6.30pm
• 15 August 2022 - Council Chamber, Council Offices, 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang - 6.30pm
• 19 September 2022 - Galada Community Centre, 10A Forum Way, Epping - 7.30pm (Community Forum to be held prior to the meeting)
• 17 October 2022 - Council Chamber, Council Offices, 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang - 6.30pm
• 21 November 2022 - Council Chamber, Council Offices, 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang - 6.30pm
• 12 December 2022 - Mernda Village Community Activity Centre, 70 Mernda Village Drive, Mernda - 7.30pm (Community Forum to be held prior to the meeting)

NB: At its meeting on 25 October 2021 Council resolved that the Council Meetings of 21 March, 27 June, 19 September and 12 December 2022 will commence at 6.30pm, if they need to be held remotely by electronic means in accordance with COVID safe measures.

Governance Rules

At its meeting on 1 June 2021 Council reviewed and updated the rules that govern the operation of Council meetings so that community can better participate in decision making. 

The changes include:

• During Public Questions Time members of the public can ask questions at Council meetings; and
  
• Providing the option for a lead petitioner or one of the signatories to a petition/joint letter to speak for up to 2 minutes at the meeting at which it is tabled.
  

Asking questions at Council Meetings

Residents and ratepayers of the City of Whittlesea may submit questions up to the advertised commencement time of a scheduled Council Meeting. 

Council is committed to ensuring that all residents and ratepayers can contribute to Council’s democratic process so if you are unable to provide your question in writing and/or in English and would like to make alternate arrangements, please call our Governance Team before a Council Meeting on 9217 2294 to discuss other ways to submit your question.

You are not required to attend the Council Meeting for your question to be read out and a response provided at the meeting.

If you would like to speak to your question at the Council Meeting, please indicate this when submitting your question.

Please note, a maximum of two questions per person, can be submitted per meeting.

You can submit your question using the form below or by emailing info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au.

Priority will be given to questions that relate to matters listed in the Agenda (including speaking to a Petition or Joint Letter) and questions received up to 3 hours prior to the commencement of the meeting.

Attending Council Meetings

When attending a Council Meeting a condition of entry is to sign in upon arrival. You will be required to wear a visitor pass for the duration of your attendance at the meeting.  If you are unable to sign in alternate arrangements can be made.

Any member of the public can attend Council Meetings to hear what is going on. 

The meetings involve decision-making on topics including:

• Town planning
• The construction of community facilities
• Community services
• A range of policies that guide the City's actions.

Council Meeting procedures

You can find information about how Whittlesea Council is governed in our Governance Rules 2021 and the Common Seal and Conduct at Meetings Local Law 2020. The Governance Rules were adopted on 1 June 2021.

These documents regulate:

• procedures and meeting processes for Scheduled Council Meetings, Additional Council Meetings, and Delegated Committee Meetings; 
• use of the Council Common Seal; and
• offence provisions relating to disorderly conduct at meetings and misuse of the Council Common Seal.