How does the council come to decisions

Image

Purpose: to retrieve information.

The council can form an opinion by reading documents and asking questions to each other, the residents (speakers), the board and the officials. Good listening and asking questions is important. The college will provide the necessary documents well in advance of this evening so that the council can prepare for this evening. During this evening, the college will give a short introductory presentation. This phase of the decision-making process is aimed at gathering information so that the council members can get a good picture of the social issue. The purpose is not to take positions or engage in discussion. The outcome of an image-forming evening is the basis for the judgment evening.

Judgment

Purpose: establish positions

The second step is judgment; the (political) debate. In this stage, council members take a (preliminary) position. Residents can also speak up on this evening and let it be known what they think of certain plans. Arguments are exchanged and people try to convince each other. The council can do this by having a debate between the (citizen) council members and/or the council members. The aim is to arrive at a (preliminary) position. This results in the recommendation for a hammer or discussion item.

A hammer piece is a meeting item to be discussed for which it is proposed (or determined) that it be approved without discussion or a vote. It is no longer discussed in the decision-making council. A discussion item is still discussed in the decision-making council.

Speaking Rights

The right to speak is only available during the image and opinion forming stage. During the opinion-forming stage, you can ask (factual) questions and inform the council. You can give your opinion during the opinion-forming stage.
Support for the speech with written material is possible. This is to be sent in advance to the Municipal Clerk’s Office. Please note that as a speaker you will also be pictured during a meeting. If you would like to exercise the right to speak, please register at Municipal Clerk’s Office

Decision-making (= council meeting)

Purpose: to make decisions

The final step is to make a decision. This is either a no-ballot item or the debate continues (discussion item), by submitting motions (requests to the college) or amendments (proposed changes). Council decisions are made in the decision-making council and are made by the votes of council members present. Decisions are made by majority vote. Council members may, if they wish, give an explanation of vote.

The mayor is the chairman of the council; the clerk sits next to the mayor during the council meeting and advises him. Councilors are not part of the council, but may participate in deliberations and answer questions.

Opinion-forming and opinion-forming council meetings - Right to speak

Image-forming council meetings

These take various forms: informational, advisory, and educational. Each form has a different purpose and can be organized by different groups. 

  • Informational

    The executive board provides the council with information on a particular topic. This could include, for example, an update on the progress of a project or a presentation on a new initiative.
    Interested parties are welcome to attend as observers.

  • Advisory

    The Executive Board seeks the Council’s views on policy issues or potential solutions. This may occur, for example, in the run-up to a Council proposal or regarding matters on which the Executive Board has the authority to decide. The Executive Board poses questions and solicits feedback from Council members and members of the public.
    Members of the public may also attend these sessions as observers.

  • Imaging

    These informational council meetings focus on specific proposals from the executive board that the council will ultimately vote on. The purpose of these meetings is to provide the council with a clear understanding of the proposal: What is it about? What are the implications? Who was involved in its preparation?
    Interested parties are welcome to participate in these meetings.

Judgmental council meetings

During deliberative council meetings, members of the public have the opportunity to speak on an item on the agenda. Speakers may express their views on the topic during the first session, after which council members and members of the public may ask additional questions.

Would you like to join or speak in?

Register the day before the council meeting by 12:00 p.m. at Municipal Clerk’s Office

Please include your contact information and the subject in question.

Rules of Order

All rules on the conduct of meetings and other activities of the Nuenen City Council are laid down in the Rules of Procedure.

Open government

All meetings of the Nuenen City Council are in principle open to the public. However, as in any organization, subjects are occasionally raised that are not (yet) eligible for public discussion. Closed meetings, the imposition of secrecy regarding the discussion or written documents is only permitted on the grounds mentioned in Article 10 of the Government Information (Public Access) Act.