[comment caption=Is the public being shut out of the DCC's decision making process?]New rules that could affect the public's ability to speak at Dunedin City Council meetings have been criticised for reducing democratic input in decision-making.
The council will on Monday discuss a report that recommends replacing public forums at the start of the council's five committee meetings - where any member of the public can have a say - with a separate two-hour forum, with a "theme" chosen by the council.
But Cr Richard Walls, who approved the report, said the plan was to improve a forum that had become frustrating for the public, councillors and council staff, with a system that allowed discussion to take place and ideas raised to be developed.
Since 1987, public forums have allowed individuals the chance to speak to committees of councillors for five minutes, and groups for 10 minutes.
A report by council governance team leader Nina Darling said under the proposals a two-hour "stand-alone" public forum would be held after the last committee meeting of each round of council committees.
That would allow for public comment before the committees' recommendations were considered by a full council meeting.
The theme for each forum would be advertised in advance.
The report said councillors and staff were concerned the current system did not allow the best opportunity for the public to engage with the council.
There was no statutory means for a committee to deal with any issue raised at a forum, unless the matter was on the agenda.
"This often leads to a degree of frustration, and a perception that council is not interested, or unwilling to act."
Dunedin Ratepayers and Householders Association chairman Syd Adie, a regular user of the public forums, said the new meetings would be after the committee round, when most decisions were made.
"It's a real backward step."
The new system also meant the public could not talk about agenda items that would be discussed at the meeting.
"We're saying if it's an agenda item, you should be able to speak to it."
The public forums were "absolutely useful".
"There's no other way you can get your message to the council."
Former mayoral candidate accountancy lecturer Nicola Holman said while councillors and staff may be frustrated with the process, she did not think the public was.
"Just because they have a two-hour meeting doesn't mean the public will be any less frustrated."
Cr Walls said, while the report stated the two-hour meetings would "effectively replace" the public forums, that did not preclude someone speaking.
As long as a subject was on the agenda, an application to speak to it could be made.
Under the new system, ideas put forward by the public could be picked up by staff, rather than wait until the next annual plan process.
After the topic had been discussed, members of the public could talk about matters relevant to the council.
New public forums
A two-hour "stand-alone" public forum to be held after the last committee meeting of each round of council committees.
Would replace time set aside at the start of committee meetings for public forums, though committee chairmen would have the discretion to invite people to speak.
Each forum would have a theme chosen by the council.
Members of the public wishing to speak to the theme would be given priority, though those attending could speak on any matter relevant to the council's activities.
Councillors could engage in discussion with speakers at the meetings, but could not engage in debate.
