Public Participation

Members of the public are able to address the Council during the Public Forum at the beginning of each Full Council meeting. 15 minutes are set aside for this purpose.

• A person’s intention/wish to address the Council must be registered in the public speaking book just prior to the meeting (the Council Officer will advise where and how to sign). The intention to speak cannot be registered any earlier or by any other means.
• The opportunity to speak is given for up to 15 minutes of public speaking. Each person will be given up to three minutes to speak. To allow balance an equal number of people will be able to speak for and against a subject. The first person, either way, to enter his/her name in the book taking precedence in the event of more than the said number of people wishing to speak.
• The Chairman will suspend the meeting and indicate to the speaker when they can address the Committee.
• Each speaker will be limited to three minutes’ speech which will be timed.
• The Chairman can exercise his/her discretion to not hear a speaker if, in his/her opinion, the issue/organisation/person concerned has already received an adequate hearing.
• A Councillor may with permission of the Chairman seek clarification from the Speaker, but this must not result in conversation.
• If a member of the public interrupts the proceedings at any meeting, the Chairman may, after warning, order that he be removed from the meeting and may adjourn the meeting for such a period as is necessary to restore order.
• The meeting of the Council is open to the public but is not a public meeting. Once the Chairman has re-opened the meeting no further public participation is permitted.
• For Standing Committees there is an opportunity at the start of the meeting for members to speak on any subject on the agenda.