Agenda item

The report and appendix relating to this item are included in the agenda pack.

The Council is requested to make the following resolution:

That the Councils procedure for public questions be amended as set out in the Appendix to the report.

The Chairman invited Mr Bennett to introduce the reportand referred members to pages 45-50 of the agenda pack. He explained the importance of public question time and the need for informed answers to be provided. He added that the number, detail and complexity of public questions had increased with officers receiving public questions up until noon on the day before the meeting. He explained that this does not allow a great deal of time to produce a detailed informed response. He confirmed that the last few public questions had not related to the agenda so would be unlikely to be impacted on the deadline being brought forwards. He outlined the recommendation to move the public question time deadline and amend the associated document.

Mrs Purnell suggested amending the time allowed per questioner to three minutes rather than five minutes to enable five questions in the 15 minute timeslot on the agenda.

Mr Moss proposed the following amendments to the public question time document:

·         Three minutes per question rather than five minutes per question.

·         Rather than questions by noon three working days before, questions should be submitted by noon two working days before (for Cabinet on Tuesday the deadline would be noon on Friday).

·         Include a list of meetings where public questions may be submitted in the final document.

He suggested amending the recommendation as follows:

That the council’s procedure for public questions be amended (subject to the amendments listed above) and that the council will use best endeavours to publish agenda seven working days prior to the meeting.

Mrs Lintill confirmed that she would be comfortable to support the amendments put forward by Mr Moss if officers were content with the proposed timescales.

Mrs Sharp noted her agreement with Mr Moss in supporting a deadline of two working days before a meeting as a reasonable compromise as three working days would be too long. She also noted her agreement that the agenda publication dates should be brought forward.

Mr Hobbs asked Mr Bennett to confirm whether the term reasonable endeavours would be more appropriate for the recommendation. Mr Bennett agreed that it would.

Mrs Shepherd clarified that the Cabinet papers are usually published seven working days before the meeting already.

Mr Moss proposed the following which was seconded by Mrs Lintill:

1.    That the council’s procedure for public questions be amended as follows:

a.    Three minutes per question.

b.    Questions to be submitted by noon two working days before (for Cabinet on Tuesday the deadline would be noon on Friday).

c.    A list of meetings where public questions may be submitted to be included in the final public question time document.

2.    That the council will use reasonable endeavours to publish agenda seven working days prior to the meeting.

In a show of hands the Council voted in favour.

RESOLVED

1.    That the council’s procedure for public questions be amended as follows:

a.    Three minutes per question.

b.    Questions to be submitted by noon two working days before (for Cabinet on Tuesday the deadline would be noon on Friday).

c.    A list of meetings where public questions may be submitted to be included in the final public question time document.

2.    That the council will use reasonable endeavours to publish agenda seven working days prior to the meeting.