Public speaking at Authority and Committee meetings
Authority meetings Planning Committee meetings
1. For the purposes of this Schedule “public question” shall mean the asking of any question, the making of any statement or the presentation of any petition in relation to any item on the relevant Authority committee or sub-committee Agenda, or on any matter that falls within the Authority’s powers or the terms of reference of a committee or sub-committee.
2. Any member of the public wishing to ask a question, make a statement or present a petition at a meeting of the Authority or a committee or sub-committee of the Authority, must inform the Chief Executive (National Park Officer) at least two clear working days prior to the commencement of the meeting. In the case of the Planning Development Control Committee notification shall be given to the Member Services section of the Authority.
3. The Chief Executive (National Park Officer) shall inform the Chairman presiding at the meeting, before the commencement of that meeting, of all question(s), statements or petitions notified by any member of the public.
4. Subject to Standing Order 15, the Chairman will invite those members of the public who have given prior notice to speak. The member of the public may speak for up to 3 minutes, or longer at the Chairman’s discretion. Where more than one person wishes to speak on the same matter, the total time of three minutes will be divided amongst those speaking.
5. Any questions posed may be answered at that time without debate. If the matter raised is on the agenda for discussion later in the meeting it may be noted for consideration when the relevant agenda item is reached. The Chairman may allow a supplementary question wherever reasonable and appropriate, or in exceptional circumstances the Chairman may adjourn the meeting to allow views to be expressed more freely.
6. The time allowed for public questions at any meeting under these Standing Orders shall not normally exceed 20 minutes unless the Chairman directs otherwise.
7. Where there are a large number of questioners who in the opinion of the Chairman appear to be concerned with the same subject matter, the Chairman may ask those concerned to nominate one of their number to pose the appropriate question. In such cases the Chairman will allow up to 5 minutes to enable the spokesperson to be appointed and the question formulated.
8. For the avoidance of doubt, in this Schedule “Chairman” shall mean the person presiding at the meeting of the Authority or any committee or sub-committee of the Authority in accordance with Standing Order 10.
Related document
Standing orders (166 KB)
