Issue - meetings

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the meeting. Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

Other than a representative of the press, no members of the public were present at the meeting.

The visiting Members were offered an opportunity to speak as part of the Public Speaking Time facility, and chose to do so.

Councillor Keegan stated that he did not wish to prejudice the process which the Sub-Committee was following in any way.  He explained that he was speaking on behalf of local tax-payers.  He felt that, in terms of transparency, the matter had been dealt with very well. 

Councillor Keegan indicated that he felt that the Council perhaps needed to look again at its Whistle-blowing Policy, in order to ensure that this was fit for purpose, and that is was effective in encouraging people with concerns to come forward, without worrying that doing so would be detrimental to them.

Councillor Keegan went on to state that, as well as junior officers also being involved in this matter, the role of certain elected Members in this matter also needed to be clarified.

Councillor Edwards also acknowledged positively the openness of the proceedings, and stated that it was important for consideration to be given to the issue of accountability by elected Members, where appropriate, as well as that of officers.