How the Public Can Put a Question at Meetings of the Town Council
General
Members of the public may put questions directly to the Council. A period of fifteen minutes will be allowed at the beginning of each meeting to deal with questions and a time limit of three minutes for each speaker will be allowed.
Questions will be answered by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Town Councillors or the Town Clerk.
Order of Questions
Questions will be asked in the order in which notice was received but the Chairman may group together similar questions. If a number of people wish to speak on the same topic, then a spokesperson must be appointed.
Notice of Questions
Questions must be submitted in writing by no later than 10.00 a.m. on the Friday preceding the meeting. Any questions submitted after this deadline will be referred to the next ordinary meeting of the Town Council.
Number of Questions
At any one meeting no person may submit more than one question and no more than one question may be asked on behalf of an organisation.
Scope of Questions
Questions must relate to a matter to which the Council has powers or duties or which affect the parishes of St Just and Pendeen. Questions put at meetings of the Town Council will not be allowed on matters which have been previously determined.
The Mayor, or in his / her absence the Deputy Mayor, will reject a question if it:
- Is not about a matter for which the Town Council has a responsibility or which affects the parishes of St Just and Pendeen;
- Is defamatory, frivolous or offensive;
- Requires the disclosure of confidential information; or
- Is the same, or substantially the same question as one asked in the previous six months.
Asking the Question at the Meeting
The public must direct their questions through the Chairman and are not allowed to take part in the debate.
If a questioner who has submitted a written question is unable to be present, the question will not be put at the meeting but they will receive a written answer.
Response to Questions
The question may be dealt with in one of the following ways:
- A verbal response made at the meeting;
- The Town Clerk will be asked to respond to the questioner in writing; or
- The Town Council may decide to place the item on an agenda for a future meeting of the Town Council for further consideration.