Attending parish council meetings

Notes for the public attending

Parish Council Meetings

Acle Parish Council welcomes the public to its meetings. In fact by law, members of the public must be admitted to all meetings of the full council and its committees, (although the public can be excluded, for some decisions).  However, the law does not allow members of the public to take part in the debates.

This Parish Council, like many other parish and town councils in England and Wales, gives members of the public an opportunity to speak at some point during the meeting. We do this by temporarily adjourning the meeting.  This allows the public, and our District and County Councillors, an opportunity to speak.

For Acle Parish Council, this opportunity is at the beginning of every meeting. Please use this opportunity to raise issues or concerns about village matters.  If you wish to make a point about an item appearing later on in the meeting, for example about a planning application, then you should inform the chairman during the public forum and ask whether you will be permitted to speak during that later item, or whether you should speak during the public forum.  The councillors have the power to adjourn the meeting to permit members of the public to speak if they feel it is more useful to consider the public’s comments at the time of the agenda item.

If you wish to raise a point which does not relate to an item on the evening’s agenda, you are very welcome to do so. However, the council’s discussion of the point might have to be delayed until a subsequent meeting as the council is unable to make a decision binding in law, (this is particularly relevant to financial decisions,) unless a specific item is included on the agenda for the meeting.  A councillor, or the clerk, may be able to answer your question at the time or may have to contact you following the meeting.

Members of the Council are always willing to discuss topics put forward by the public. Our agenda is prepared about a week before the next monthly council meeting so you will need to inform the clerk or chairman about 10 days before the meeting, if you want an item included.  Although this might seem a long time in advance, the council is required by law to publicise its agenda at least three clear days before each meeting, not including the day of issue or the day of the meeting.

We hope that you will find the meeting useful and if you have any queries please contact the clerk, Pauline James, on

01493 – 751070 or [email protected].

You can read the minutes for previous meetings at:

https://aclepc.norfolkparishes.gov.uk/

 

 

 

Acle Parish Council

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