SHAP PARISH COUNCIL
Policy and Procedure for Public Participation at Council meetings
The policy and procedure outlined below is consistent with the Parish Council’s Standing Orders 66 to 71.
Agendas for meetings
The Parish Clerk will be pleased to provide Agenda papers for the meetings of the Parish Council.
Several days before a meeting, the Agenda will be posted on the Market Cross noticeboard, in the library and on the website: www.shapcumbria.co.uk
Meetings at which the public may participate
All meetings of the Parish Council, including formally convened committee meetings, are open to members of the public, including the press, unless confidential information is being discussed, in which case a resolution excluding members of the public on the grounds of exempted information must be passed together with the reason for that exclusion.
Time at which public may speak At all meetings of the Council, the Chairman may at his/her discretion and at a convenient time in the transaction of business, allow any member of the public to address the meeting in relation to the business to be transacted.
At all meetings of the Council, the Chairman may permit members of the public at a convenient time in the transaction of business, to (a) make representations, (b) answer questions or (c) give evidence relating to any item to be transacted.
Time limits for public participation Any public participation period before the start of the meeting shall not exceed 10 minutes.
The Chairman has absolute discretion to extend the time for presentations.
No member of the public may speak for more than 3 minutes.
A member of the public may not speak more than once on the same subject unless invited by the Chairman to clarify information.
The Chairman may limit the number of public participants on each side where proponents and opponents attend a meeting to express their views.
Notice of questions
Questions must be received in writing by the Parish Clerk at the Market Cross at least 9 days before a Council meeting. This will allow the Council time to collect any relevant information and allow time to be allocated in the Agenda. Questions should be put to the meeting in person by the questioner or a representative of the questioner.
Council response to questions
The Council’s response to a question will be confirmed in writing.
The Parish Council’s contact is: Mrs Dorothy Waterworth, Parish Clerk, Market Cross, Main Street, Shap, Penrith CA10 3NL. Telephone: 01931 716743 or 01768 352787
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