Council
Members of the public may ask questions of members of the Cabinet and Chairs of the Council’s committees and other standing bodies at ordinary meetings of the Council.
Notice of questions
A question may only be asked if notice has been given by delivering it in writing or by email to the Chief Executive no later than noon, 8 clear working days before the day of the meeting. (A clear working day is any day Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) and not including the day of receipt and the day of the meeting).
Each question must give the name and address of the questioner and must name the member of the Council to whom it is to be put.
Number of questions
At any one meeting no person may submit more than 2 questions and no more than 2 such questions may be asked on behalf of one organisation. A maximum of 4 questions in any local government year may be submitted by any person or on behalf of an organisation or business.
Scope of questions
The Chief Executive in consultation with the Chair of the Council may reject a question if it:
- is not about a matter for which the local authority has a responsibility or which affects the district;
- is defamatory, frivolous or offensive;
- is substantially the same as a question which has been put at a meeting of the Council in the past six months;
- requires the disclosure of confidential or exempt information;
- relates to judicial / quasi-judicial items, planning and licensing applications or appeals;
- names Officers or Members by name and/or alleges breaches of the Members’ Code of Conduct which are subject or may be subject to investigations; or
- relates to an ongoing complaint to the Council, either at Stage 1 or 2, or a complaint that is currently subject to investigation by the Local Government Ombudsman or a complaint which has been concluded either at Stage 1 or 2 or via the Local Government Ombudsman.
Order of questions
Questions will be asked in the order determined by the Chair of the Council acting in conjunction with the Monitoring Officer and / or Chief Executive. The Chair may group together similar questions. No question or answer may exceed 5 minutes without the permission of the Chair and the totality of questions and answers may not extend beyond 15 minutes without the consent of the Chair of Council.
Asking the question at the meeting
The Chair will invite the questioner to put the question to the member. If a questioner who has submitted a written question is unable to be present, they may ask the Chair to put the question on their behalf.
The Chair may ask the question on the questioner’s behalf, indicate that a written reply will be given, or decide in the absence of the questioner, that the question will not be dealt with.
Written answers
Any question which cannot be dealt with during public question time, either because of lack of time or because of the non-attendance of the member to whom it was to be put, will be dealt with by a written answer. A copy of the written answer will be provided to all members.
Cabinet
A period of 15 minutes shall be allowed at the start of ordinary meetings of the Cabinet for questions to be put by members of the public to members of the Cabinet. Question will be allowed at the discretion of the Chair. Answers will be given either orally at the meeting or in writing following the meeting.
Planning Committee
Any person wishing to speak, must submit the form by no later than the close of business one day before the meeting. (This will normally be Tuesday 5:00pm for a Wednesday 6:30pm meeting).
Each speaker has 3 minutes to speak (timed) and no further participation can be had afterwards.
Type of speaker:
- Parish Council
- Neighbourhood Planning Group
- Objector
- Supporter
- Ward Member
- County Councillor
- Applicant
- Agent
Annual Budget Meeting
There is no provision at an Annual Budget Meeting for questions and motions.
As per the constitution the Council can receive any statements from members of the public who are residents of, or working in, the district relating only to an item of business on the public part of the agenda of that meeting.
Last Updated on Friday, September 12, 2025