Have your say
Public Speaking at Council Committees and Meetings
The Council wishes to encourage the public to take an interest
in its affairs and give them an opportunity to tell Councillors
directly at meetings about things that concern them.
You are welcome to speak for up to 3 minutes at any open public
meeting of the Council. These include:
Full Council
Cabinet
Overview and Scrutiny meetings
Regulatory Committees (Except for those mentioned below)
The exceptions to this rule are planning meetings,
regulatory (Public Rights of Way Access) and regulatory (Licensing)
which have a separate speaking scheme with different periods of
notice. Please contact the relevant Committee Administrator
for further details (
Democratic Services who we are Page).
Giving Notice to Speak
If you wish to speak, you are asked to give advance
notice to the Democratic Services Officer for that
meeting. They are responsible for the organisation, clerking
and smooth running of meetings. You will find their names and
contact details on the agenda and on the
Democratic Services who we are page.
Notice is required by no later than close of business two
clear working days before the meeting (i.e. on Monday for a
Thursday meeting, on Wednesday for a Monday meeting and on Friday
for a Wednesday meeting). Close of business is deemed to be 5pm,
Monday – Thursdays and 4.30pm on Fridays.
The public can use the public speaking scheme in the following
ways:
Petition – to present a petition about an issue which
reflects the concerns of the local community.
Question - to ask a question of councillors or
officers at a meeting – your question must be set out in full by
the deadline as stated above.
Statement – To make a
statement about a Council service or about something the Council
has or has not done, or about a matter of local interest or
concern.
Deputation To present a
deputation calling for action by the Council, registering a view
about something the Council has or has not done, or making a
position statement about a matter of community interest. A
Deputation will normally be made on behalf of an organised
community group or body of interest.
For advice on the content of submissions, please contact the
Democratic Services Officer for that meeting.
A submission may be allowed at shorter notice than two days at
the sole discretion of the chair of the meeting. It is helpful, but
not obligatory, if you can provide a copy of your statement in
advance of, or at the meeting.
Normally, there will be no debate with you about what you say.
However, providing you have no objection, Councillors may ask
questions about your submission solely for clarification. Once you
have spoken, you can leave the meeting at any time, but you are
also free to wait and listen to the ensuing discussion or
decision.
The meeting will decide on the most appropriate course of action
regarding your submission.
Who Can speak?
- Anyone who is a resident in the area covered by the
authority
- Anyone who has a business operating in the area covered by the
authority
- Employees of the Council who wish to make submissions as
private citizens as long as their representations do not relate to
issues connected with their employment.
- Anyone who is a representative of a Bath and North East
Somerset organisation or any south west regional/ sub-regional
organisation that has legitimate legal activity in the Bath and
North East Somerset area or affecting Bath and North East Somerset
citizens.
Support for the public and access for those with
disabilities
The prospect of speaking at a formal meeting may be daunting to
some people. If you have any concerns or questions, do ask the
Democratic Services officer for advice and support.
Councillors and officers at the meeting will treat members of
the public politely and with respect. Similarly, it is expected
that the public will make any submissions courteously.
If you have any particular needs to enable you to access the
meeting and speak, then please inform the Democratic Services
officer so that they can make the appropriate arrangements. Public
meetings are held in buildings which have reasonable access and
seating for the public. Microphones will normally be installed in
meeting rooms
A hearing induction loop is available in Keynsham Town Hall and
on request from the main reception desk at the Guildhall, Bath.
Exceptions to the public speaking
scheme
Some matters fall outside the scope of the scheme. These
are:
- Meetings which, because of their private content or reference
to individual circumstances, have to be held in closed session e.g.
taxi licences
- Other matters which are subject to established appeal
procedures (e.g. complaints, school admission appeals) and
allegations against individual councillors or officers.
Agenda Papers
The agendas and reports for most meetings are published five
days in advance. A reasonable number of agenda papers will be
available for those attending meetings.
Copies of the papers are kept at the Council’s public
information points at:
- Main reception, Guildhall, Bath
- Bath Central Library, The Podium
- Riverside Offices, Keynsham
- Keynsham Library
- Reception, The Hollies, Midsomer Norton
- Midsomer Norton Library
The agenda and report papers are also published on the
council’s website.
