Public Attendance at Parish Council Meetings
The general public (residents, parishioners, press) are welcome to attend Parish Council Meetings.
If a member of the public wants to raise an issue at a Parish Council Meeting they can come along to a meeting of the Council. You may wish to contact the Clerk in advance of the meeting to explain the concerns/issues, but this is not required.
The item "Matters of Public Participation" will appear on every Meeting Agenda and a maximum of 15 minutes is allowed for issues that have been previously notified to the Clerk to be placed on the Agenda for discussion. This can be extended at the discretion of the Chair.
A member of the public can speak on an issue included on the Agenda for a maximum of 5 minutes. This can be extended at the discretion of the Chair.
According to the Standing Orders adopted by the Parish Council:
3d) Meetings shall be open to the public unless their presence is prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted or for other special reasons. The public’s exclusion from part or all of a meeting shall be by a resolution which shall give reasons for the public’s exclusion.
3e) Members of the public may make representations, answer questions and give evidence at a meeting which they are entitled to attend in respect of the business on the Agenda.
3f) The period of time designated for public participation at a meeting in accordance with standing order 3(e) above shall not exceed 15 minutes unless directed by the chairman of the meeting.
3g) Subject to standing order 3(f) above, a member of the public shall not speak for more than 5 minutes.
3h) In accordance with standing order 3(e) above, a question shall not require a response at the meeting nor start a debate on the question. The chairman of the meeting may direct that a written or oral response be given.
3i) A person shall raise his hand when requesting to speak and stand when speaking (except when a person has a disability or is likely to suffer discomfort). The chairman of the meeting may at any time permit a person to be seated when speaking.
3j) A person who speaks at a meeting shall direct his comments to the chairman of the meeting.
3k) Only one person is permitted to speak at a time. If more than one person wants to speak, the chairman of the meeting shall direct the order of speaking.