Council meetings are open to the public to put their views to elected
councillors considering recommendations from the Cabinet or a committee on major policy issues; future
spending priorities or other Council activities. There are now three opportunities at Council meetings
for the public to put forward their views and these are as follows:-
(1) Asking a Public Question Public "Question Time" is near the start of Council meetings
and is an opportunity for any person to ask the Leader of the Council, or his nominee, a question about
a matter in which the Council has powers or duties or an issue that affects the Borough.
(2) Presenting a Petition The Council has a procedure to enable any person to present a petition
at a Council meeting and for the presenter to address the Council for a maximum of three minutes.
(3) Making Representations on Recommendations Before the Council considers a recommendation from the Cabinet or a
Committee and before it makes a decision on that recommendation, any person can put forward views on
the issues involved by making representations to the Council for a maximum of three minutes.
The procedure for a person wishing to (1) ask a public question, (2)
present a petition or (3) make representations on a recommendation is: - To notify the Chief Executive
in writing or by e-mail before 12 Noon, five working days prior to the day of the Council meeting and
at the same time deliver (1) their written question, (2) the original of their petition or (3) their
written statement of representations.
On occasions, confidential matters may be discussed during the latter
part of the Council meeting. The press and public are excluded from those discussions.
Contact: Committee Services on 01784 446240
Note: Where meetings are held in the Council Chamber including full
Council, the Chamber is fitted with an induction loop for use with hearing aids. Ramps and lifts are
available for use of wheelchairs.
The Cabinet
The record of decisions of the Cabinet is published in a substantially
different form from previous minutes. The rules on how decisions are made and recorded require that
certain information about cabinet decisions, whether made by the Cabinet collectively or by individual
Cabinet members, has to be contained in the written record of the decision. The new format for recording
Cabinet decisions is designed to capture and record this information.
Members of the public are welcome to attend these meetings and to listen
to the elected councillors who represent their interests.
On occasions, confidential matters may be discussed during the latter
part of the meeting. The press and public are excluded from those discussions.
Contact: Committee Services on 01784 446240
Note: Where meetings are held in the Council Chamber including full
Council, the Chamber is fitted with an induction loop for use with hearing aids. Ramps and lifts are
available for use of wheelchairs.
Planning Committee
Members of the public and applicants are welcome to attend these meetings
and to listen to individual planning applications and other development control matters being considered,
and to speak where prior registration to speak is made under the Council's scheme.
Under the public speaking scheme, one person for and one person against
a planning application can speak directly to members of the cmmittee before a planning application is
decided on. Members of the public who wish to speak at the Committee need to register with the Committee
Administrator either on the day before the meeting or by 4pm on the day of the committee meeting.
On very rare occasions, confidential matters may be discussed during
the latter part of the meeting. The press and public are excluded from those discussions.
Contact: Senior Committee Administrator, Liz Phillis on (01784) 446276.
Note: Where meetings are held in the Council Chamber including full
Council, the Chamber is fitted with an induction loop for use with hearing aids. Ramps and lifts are
available for use of wheelchairs.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee Members of the public are welcome to attend these meetings and to listen
to the elected councillors debating matters (in the discharge of the scrutiny function) in relation
to service delivery and performance management. The general role of overview and scrutiny is to
deliver measurable outcomes, which benefit the effectiveness of the Council and the community.
On occasions, confidential matters may be discussed during the later
part of the meeting. The press and public are excluded from those discussions.
Contact: Senior Committee Manager, Liz Phillis on (01784) 446276.
Licensing Committee
Members of the public are welcome to attend these meetings and to listen
to the councillors considering licensing matters related to public and private entertainment, gaming
and betting licences, taxi licensing and street or house to house collections.
On occasions, confidential matters may be discussed during the latter
part of the meeting. The press and public are excluded from those discussions.
Contact: Committee Services on 01784 446240
Note: Where meetings are held in the Council Chamber including full
Council, the Chamber is fitted with an induction loop for use with hearing aids. Ramps and lifts are
available for use of wheelchairs.
Standards Committee
The Standards Committee comprises two independent non-councillor members
as Chairman and Vice-Chairman and oversees ethical and probity issues in relation to the Council.
Members, and members of the public, are welcome to attend these meetings
and to listen to the elected councillors discussing issues relating to the Council operating to the
highest ethical standards.
On occasions, confidential matters may be discussed during the latter
part of the meeting. The press and public are excluded from those discussions.
Contact: Senior Committee Administrator, Liz Phillis on (01784) 446276.
Note: Where meetings are held in the Council Chamber including full
Council, the Chamber is fitted with an induction loop for use with hearing aids. Ramps and lifts are
available for use of wheelchairs.
