As part of our commitment to improving the level of public participation in local government, the public can ask questions or speak at most of our meetings.

You may ask questions on issues to be considered at meetings of the Council. 

The procedure for public speaking at the meetings is as follows:

• Questions should be submitted to the Parish Clerk three working days prior to the respective meeting. This is to allow sufficient time for research and preparation of an appropriate response. Questions may be submitted either in writing, by telephoning or by e-mail for the respective meeting.  
• A maximum period of 15 minutes will be allocated at the beginning of each meeting to allow public questions to be heard and answered.  
• Anyone wishing to ask a question on any item to be considered at the respective meeting will be allowed a maximum period of three minutes to state their question on the appropriate item(s).  
• In the event of several people wishing to speak either in favour or against the issue, the respective group(s) will be requested to select one spokesperson to address the Council.  
• One person wishing to speak either in support or against the issue will be allowed to address the Council even if no other person wishes to present an opposing argument.  
• The question(s) will be answered by the relevant Councillor, following which the questioner will be allowed to ask one supplementary question. If the supplementary question is not able to be answered at the meeting, a written reply will be sent to the questioner as early as possible after the meeting.  
• You will be allowed to stay for the rest of the meeting, but will not be able to speak on any other agenda item after the allotted three minutes.  
• The above procedures are not specific to this Parish Council, they are part of national guidelines and are generally adopted by national local councils and committees. 
• Only if time permits the chairman and councillors may agree to continue the debate/issues raised.  

 
August 2009