As a member of our community, council decisions often affect you directly and we encourage your interest and participation in local issues. Members of the public are welcome to ask a question, make a statement or just observe the proceedings at open meetings.

The City of Fremantle meetings include:

• ordinary council meetings
• committee meetings, and
• other meetings, including advisory committees and working groups.

Council and committee meetings are held in the Council Chamber at the Walyalup Civic Centre

Members of the public can attend a council or committee meeting in person or online via Teams.  

How to register to speak online

Complete the online form and email it to agendasminutes@fremantle.wa.gov.au before 1pm on the day of the meeting.

Once your registration has been received, you will receive an email with a link and instructions for the meeting.

If you attend the meeting in person, you may register to speak at the meeting.

Meeting place, dates and live streaming 

Council and committee meetings are held at Walyalup Civic Centre - Council Chamber, located at 151 High Street, Fremantle. Meetings commence at 6pm.

A live stream of council meetings will be available on the City's Youtube channel on the day of the meeting. Visit the live streaming page for more information.

The Audit and Risk Management Committee meetings will be closed to the public.

For dates and times of upcoming meetings, view the meeting schedule for 2023-24.

Committees

The council has established committees in accordance with the Local Government Act, and has delegated some of its powers to some of those committees. The committees are:

•  Finance, Policy, Operations and Legislation Committee
•  Planning Committee
•  Audit and Risk Management Committee
• CEO Performance Review Committee

Terms of reference, committee membership, and a description of the functions of the committees can be found in the Council: Committees and Groups Register 2021-2023.

Agendas and minutes

Agendas are published on the City’s website by 5.00 pm on the Friday before the meeting. A limited number of agendas are available at each meeting, and a copy may be printed on request. 
Decisions and recommendations made by the council or committee are recorded in the minutes of the meeting, but the council or committee's general discussion on each item is not.  If you speak during public question time, a summary of your question or statement, including your name will be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

Council and committee meetings may be recorded for minute purposes only.

Unconfirmed minutes are published within 14 days following the council meeting and 7 days following committee meetings.

Community participation

Time is set aside during open council and committee meetings for public question time. All members of the public who wish to ask a question or make a statement will be given an opportunity to do so.
To register to speak, you may:

• submit your question or provide detail of your statement before 12 noon on the day of the meeting (you will still be required to attend the meeting in person to present your statement or ask your question).
• register at the venue (at least ten minutes before the meetings starts) and the presiding member will call you forward to address the meeting.  A registration form is available outside the meeting venue between 5.30 pm and 5.50 pm on the day of the meeting.
• raise your hand when the presiding member asks if there are any questions and or statements from the public.

Once you have asked your question or made your statement, you will not be able to enter into the discussion or debate the issue with members.  Once your item has been dealt with, you may remain for the rest of the meeting or leave the venue at any time.

If you would like to register to speak in reference to an item at a planning committee meeting, contact the planning committee meeting support officer on 08 9432 9999 or planning@fremantle.wa.gov.au before close of business the day of the meeting, or register outside the meeting venue up to ten minutes before the meeting is due to commence.  

Questions must relate to an item on the agenda or the ordinary business or function of the City of Fremantle.

Special deputations and petitions may also be presented at council and committee meetings.

More information on participating at council and committee meetings can be found here

Delegation 

The Planning Committee and the Finance, Policy, Operations and Legislation Committee have delegation to make certain decisions on behalf of council.

More information on delegations to committees can be found in the register of delegated authority.

Confidential items

Occasionally, members of the public may be requested by the presiding member to temporarily leave a committee or council meeting to allow for discussion of a confidential item.

Useful documents

Meeting procedures policy
Recording and livestreaming of meetings policy
Petitions guide and template

Useful links

Western Australian Planning Commission
State Administrative Tribunal