Members of the public are welcome to attend meetings of Council, including Informal Gatherings. We commend the community’s interest in local issues and welcome it when community members take the time to attend.
Meeting agendas are available to the public three clear days before each meeting at our offices or on this website. Click here to view the meeting agendas and minutes or view the meeting schedule.
Public participation
There are several ways in which members of the public can make their views known or heard in Council. These include letters or petitions to Council. An individual or group can also request a deputation to address a meeting of Council. Such requests or petitions should be made in writing, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, at least one week before the meeting. Contact the Maitland Office on 08 8832 0000 or email admin@yorke.sa.gov.au.
While members of the public are welcome to attend all meetings, they can’t participate in the debate at meetings. Members of the public do not need to stay for the whole meeting, but may leave quietly at any time.
Confidential items
Occasionally it is necessary for the Council to discuss a matter in private. Items that may be discussed in private (in confidence) include those that concern personal affairs or legal issues or those that have commercial implications for Council. The Local Government Act sets out what factors may be considered in closing a meeting to the public. The meeting agenda will identify those items where it may be necessary to discuss them in confidence.
All members of the public are required to leave the meeting while a confidential item is discussed. Items that Council has determined are confidential are discussed at the end of each meeting so as to not inconvenience members of the public.
Elected Member Information and Briefing Sessions
Elected Member Information and Briefing Sessions provide a valuable opportunity to enhance the decision-making processes by providing opportunities for Council members to become better informed on issues and seek further clarification.
Elected Member Information and Briefing Sessions will be used solely for the purpose of generating ideas, sharing information, seeking further information on issues or they are used for training and development for Elected Members. Agendas for the Elected Member Information and Briefing Sessions are publicly available here.
Staff may receive guidance however Elected Member Information and Briefing Sessions are not used for building consensus positions, or making Council decisions in any way.