Your opportunity to have your
say
WHAT CAN I DO?
(1) Public participation time is an
opportunity for you to raise issues of concern or interest – you
may ask a question, make a statement or deputation or present a
petition.
(2) You can participate at the beginning of
Council meetings which meets monthly on Tuesdays in the Council
Chamber at Westport House at 7 pm.
(3) Similar procedures will be used at other
public meetings, although different arrangements are used at
meetings of the Planning Board where, by appointment, members of
the public may speak for up to 3 minutes on individual planning
applications.
(5) Participation normally should relate to
matters where the Council has powers or duties or which directly
affect the District. The Chairman will not allow any
participation which is of a personal nature or relates to
individual issues.
HOW DO I
PARTICIPATE?
(6) You will be invited to address the
Chairman who may ask an appropriate Councillor or officer to reply
in the case of a question.
(7) A deputation should not exceed 5 people,
only one of whom should speak.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE?
(8) 15 minutes will be allowed for
participation at the start of the meetings although exceptionally
this may be extended. Each question should not normally
exceed 3 minutes and 5 minutes in the case of a statement/
deputation/petition.
(9) The Chairman may permit supplementary
questions relating to the original question taking account of the
length of your original question and answer and any other
anticipated public participation.
WHAT HAPPENS
THEN?
(10) When you ask a question the answer may take
the form of:-
(a) a direct oral response; or
(b) where relevant information is contained
in a publication of the Council, reference
to that publication; or
(c) where the reply to your question cannot
conveniently be given orally, an undertaking to provide a written
answer.
(11) When you make a statement, present a
petition or are part of a deputation, the Chairman may allow a
brief response. Alternatively the issue you have raised may
be referred to an appropriate meeting for debate and any Councillor
may propose this.
(12) The minutes of the meeting will précis
public participation proceedings.
Links:
Contact Details:
If you have any queries about public participation time please
contact the Principal Democratic Services Officer on 01929
557221 or email
enquiries@purbeck-dc.gov.uk