Downham West Parish Council

Agendas & Minutes

DOWNHAM WEST PARISH COUNCIL

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS

Meetings of the Parish Council are not public meetings; members of the public have a statutory right to attend meetings of the Council as observers but have no legal right to speak.

Downham West Parish Council does allow non-elected members to report and members of the public to speak during a 15-minute Public Open Forum.

Matters discussed during the Public Open Forum are not legally required to be recorded in the body of the minutes, although Narborough Parish Council does record a summary for referencing purposes.

HOW TO HAVE YOUR SAY AT A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL

You can speak on any subject relevant to the parish.

The Open Forum lasts for a total of 15 minutes.  Up to 5 people will each have a maximum of 3 minutes to speak.  Members of the Council are also entitled to speak as a parishioner during the Open Forum for up to 3 minutes.

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.

The Chairman can agree to extend the open forum if there is an issue which requires further discussion, only if this will not affect the other business on the agenda.

DURING THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Only Members of the Council are allowed to speak for the rest of the meeting, unless the Chairman agrees otherwise.

No person shall obstruct the transaction of business at a meeting or behave offensively or improperly. If this is ignored, the Chairman of the meeting shall request such person(s) to moderate or improve their conduct.

If person(s) disregard the request of the Chairman of the meeting to moderate or improve their conduct, any Councillor or the Chairman of the meeting may move that the person be no longer heard or be excluded from the meeting. The motion, if seconded, shall be put to the vote without discussion.

If a resolution made is ignored, the Chairman of the meeting may take further reasonable steps to restore order or to progress the meeting. This may include temporarily suspending or closing the meeting.