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Tim Horner
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 9:45 am    Post subject: members of the public attending meetings Reply with quote

hi I am a new chairman of a small village pc I have been a councillor for some time. we have advaced notice of a deputation of parishoners coming to the next meeting . Normally we never have the public attend. any hints on handling this?
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albion
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 12:50 pm    Post subject: Re: members of the public attending meetings Reply with quote

Tim Horner wrote:
hi I am a new chairman of a small village pc I have been a councillor for some time. we have advaced notice of a deputation of parishoners coming to the next meeting . Normally we never have the public attend. any hints on handling this?


I take it that they are all on the electoral register for your parish?

If they are it depends if you have an open forum on your agenda in which members of the Parish can raise questions, if not usually they cannot speak. The Council once it has its agenda set out can only make decisions on what is on the agenda anything discussed in open forum if it needs a decision must be put on the agenda for the next meeting.

However if you have received advanced notice of a deputation it may be politic to place it on the agenda and give them the floor for a limited number of minutes to air their grievances. If you do not want to make a decision their and then say you will take it under advisement and discuss it at the next meeting.
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Mike Goss
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 1:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If there are members of the public present (which does happen now and then) we suspend the meeting for ten minutes to allow them to speak, then resume the meeting. During the Parish Council meeting proper members of the public may not speak unless specifically invited to by the chairman.

If we know in advance what they want to speak about we make sure there is an appropriate agenda item.

The reason why the adjournment is formally ten minutes is to give the chairman the oppurtunity to wind up any public discussion and move on. Most times we don't take anything like twn minutes with the public.
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Gavin
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:36 pm    Post subject: Admission of the Public Reply with quote

A meeting of a council must be open to the public and the press. They can be excluded only by a resolution if publicity would prejudice the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business or for some other reason stated in the resolution and arising out of the business to be transacted. The power to exclude (1) is not exercisable generally but only for a particular occasion.

(1) - Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 (still in effect)

Public Participation: Not legally binding but good practice. The meeting should be adjourned to allow the public forum to take place - a specific time limit is good practice. Standing Orders may provide a clear understanding if this will occur. The public must not take part at any other time, unless so invited and for a specific subject/report.

This applies to ALL meetings, including finance, planning, and other sub-committees.

Recommended reading (a must for all Parish Councils):
Local Council Administration (as of today's date, the Eighth Edition Pub 2009)
Author: Charles Arnold-Baker
Publisher LexisNexis
ISBN 978-1-4057-3688-6
Price INRO £62.00 (Amazon, Waterstones, WHSmith, etc)

Hope this helps

Regards

Gavin
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