The rules of the game

List of words and terms

If you attend a meeting or read council documents, you may come across words you don't already know. In this list you will find the meanings of many words. 

Detailed below is the list of words and terms:

Agenda Committee

The agenda committee adopts the draft agendas of the three council committees.

Amendment

The City Council can pass resolutions that change the proposals of the College of Mayor and Aldermen. A proposal for such a change in a decision is called an amendment.

Anonymize

Is the hiding of personal and sensitive information in (submitted) documents so that data cannot refer back to individuals.

APV

This abbreviation stands for General Local Bye-Law. An APV is the most important local ordinance. It contains commandments and prohibitions that everyone who lives, works or visits the municipality must abide by.

Image

The council likes to hear what residents, experts, businesses or institutions think about plans. Sometimes special evenings are organized for this purpose. The council then invites guests to give their opinions on a subject on which the council must later make a decision.

Budget

Every year a budget is prepared for the next 4 years. A budget states what the municipality wants to spend money on, how much money is needed to do so, and where that money will come from. The budget is the municipality's housekeeping book. The council adopts the budget.

Discussion item

At the beginning of a council meeting, the council sets the agenda. There are hammer items and discussion items. A discussion item is a proposal that is discussed at the council meeting.

Zoning

A zoning plan applies to a specific area within the boundaries of the municipality. A zoning plan describes the types of development and activities allowed in that area.

Objection

In an appeal, you explain why you disagree with an agency's decision.

PDO model

The council works according to the PDO model. That stands for Opinion, Judgment and Decision Making. First, council members gather information to get a good picture. During a committee meeting, the committee members discuss the issues with each other. In the council meeting, the council members make a decision.

Mayor

The mayor presides over the council and the college. The King, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Interior and the King's Commissioner, appoints the mayor. Before that, the City Council may say who it considers the best candidate. The mayor is appointed for a period of 6 years.

Coalition

The parties in the city council that together have a majority after the election and want to work together form the coalition. The coalition parties usually provide the aldermen.

Coalition Agreement

The coalition parties draw up a coalition agreement as soon as possible after the municipal elections. This agreement contains intentions and agreements on the policies that the municipality intends to pursue over the next 4 years.

College

The college refers to the mayor and aldermen. In short, B&W. The college forms the daily management of the municipality. They ensure that decisions made by the council are carried out. The college is accountable to the council.

First term and second term

A debate in the City Council usually consists of 2 terms. During the first term, groups engage in discussion and can ask questions of the college. The mayor or Alderman responds to the questions. During the second term, the groups engage in discussion on points remaining, after which the college may respond again.

Group

All members of 1 political party on the city council form a political group. Sometimes a political group consists of only 1 person. A political group is led by the group chairman.

Joint arrangement/collaborations

The municipality participates in several joint arrangements/collaborations. These are arrangements together with other municipalities. An example is the Metropoolregio Rotterdam Den Haag (MRDH).

Municipal taxes

The municipality gets money because the municipality levies different types of taxes. Examples are taxes for your home, dogs, garbage and the sewer system.

City Council

The municipal council consists of 35 council members. The number of inhabitants of a municipality determines the number of council members. The maximum number of council members is 45.Council members are elected for 4 years by the inhabitants of Voorne aan Zee. The council sets policy and defines the goals to be achieved. The council checks whether the college achieves these goals. The council also decides how the municipality spends its money.

Municipal Clerk’s Office

The Municipal Clerk’s Office s Office supports and advises the City Council. The Municipal Clerk’s Office s Office schedules meetings, ensures complete and accurate meeting documents, and advises on proposals, methods or approaches. They are also the point of contact for residents for questions. The Municipal Clerk’s Office s Office consists of a clerk, deputy clerk, council advisors (who are also committee clerks), a council communications advisor, a clerk's assistant and a note taker.

Clerk/Committee Clerk

The clerk is first advisor to the council and directs the Municipal Clerk’s Office. The clerk has regular meetings with the mayor and town clerk, the town clerk and the group chairs. Together with the mayor and the municipal clerk, the clerk forms "the triangle. Each council committee also has its own committee clerk.

Hammer piece

At the beginning of a council meeting, the council sets the agenda. There are hammer items and discussion items. There is no further discussion of hammer items at the council meeting.

Documents received

All letters, reports or memoranda addressed to the City Council from residents, agencies, the College or the Mayor are listed in the documents received. These may or may not be anonymized.

Initiative Proposal

Most council proposals are prepared by the college. But council members can also submit a proposal to the council on their own initiative: the initiative proposal.

Inspiring

Residents may speak. We advise residents to opt for a committee meeting, as by then council members have not yet formed their opinions. To speak in, you must register with the Municipal Clerk’s Office at least 24 hours before the meeting via email Municipal Clerk’s Officenl NOTE At the committee meeting, residents can speak in on a variety of topics. In the council meeting, this can only be done on topics on the agenda.

Interpellation

An interpellation allows a council member to ask the college or the mayor questions about a topic that is not on the agenda. It is a weighty means of obtaining answers on a political, topical and important issue. The Rules of Procedure for the City Council outline the Requirements for an interpellation.

Interruption

Speaking to a speaker is called an interruption. The chair determines whether such an interruption is allowed.

Motion

During council meetings, council members can make motions (requests or orders to the college). With a majority vote, the motion is adopted. A "motion strange" is a motion on an issue that is not on the agenda, but has a topical and urgent nature.

Ancillary function

Council members often have jobs and/or volunteer work in addition to their council membership. These are called ancillary positions. Council members and council committee members are required to report their ancillary positions. These can be found on the municipality's website.

Opposition

All groups on the City Council that are not in the coalition constitute the opposition.

Petition

A petition is a request to the City Council. Anyone may submit a petition. This is stated in Article 5 of the Constitution. You can start a petition alone, or with a large group of people. You do not need a certain number of signatures to start a petition.

Presidium

The presidium consists of the group chairs of the political parties from the City Council. The chairman of the council (the mayor) is also the chairman of the presidium. The clerk is an advisor. In the meeting of the presidium, the agenda for the city council is set in concept and all kinds of practical matters are discussed.

Quorum

The quorum is the minimum number of members who must be present to be allowed to meet. In Voorne aan Zee , at the council meeting it is half the number of council members + 1 (i.e. 19).

Council committee member

Member of one of the 3 council committees: Society Committee, Space Committee and General Affairs and Resources Committee.

Council committee meeting

All decisions made in council are discussed in a committee meeting. There are 3 council committees: Society Committee, Space Committee and General Affairs and Resources Committee.

Council information letter

With a council information letter, the college informs the council about a particular topic. The council can put a council information letter on the committee meeting agenda for discussion, giving council members an opportunity to ask questions of each other and the college. Council information letters are usually public and are posted on the website.

Council Member

The municipal council consists of 35 council members. Council members are elected for 4-year terms by the residents of the municipality. A number of council members from each party sit on a council committee. 

Council documents

These are the items that are placed on the agenda for a council meeting.

Council meeting

The City Council meets every five weeks on a Thursday. City Council meetings are basically public and are broadcast on the Internet through the council information system. Residents can attend the meeting from the public gallery.

Council proposal

A council proposal comes from the college, one or more council members, the presidium or a group of citizens (in which case it is called a citizens' initiative). A council proposal may propose a new policy or a process change. The council meeting decides on the proposal.

Rules of Order

The Rules of Order contain rules on the conduct of business at City Council meetings. For example, how a decision should be made, the order of speaking by those present and the recording of decisions.

Written questions

Any council member may submit written questions to the college on political issues. These questions must be answered in writing within 30 days. The answers to the questions are public and are posted on the website. If necessary, a request can be added for oral answers.

Explanation of vote

Brief statement by a city council member prior to voting on a resolution or ordinance.

Technical question

In preparation for meetings, council members can ask technical questions of the college. Technical questions are about the content of an item on the agenda.

Commitment

In a pledge, the mayor or an Alderman promises to do something to the council, such as in response to a debate, written question or motion. Those promises go on the pledge list.

Unanimous

Everyone agrees with the proposal.

Spokesman

All groups have spokespersons for various topics. They debate the topic in the committee meeting. There is 1 spokesperson per agenda item.

View

A view is an opinion on a proposed decision or plan of the municipality and/or of a proposed decision or plan of a joint arrangement. In some cases, the municipality or the joint arrangement does not take a decision directly, but there will first be a proposed decision. In an opinion, the resident describes with which points he/she agrees or disagrees and why. If necessary, the municipality can take these points into account in the final decision.