The 38 members of the Council meet together in the Council Chamber at
approximately six weekly intervals. The Council meets under the
Chairmanship of the Mayor.
The Mayor controls the
debates and makes rulings on any matters that cause dispute during
the meetings.
Honorary Aldermen (who play no part in formal
Council meetings) may also present.
There are also facilities available for the
press.
The Councillors sit in the body of the Chamber. As
the Council is divided into political groups, the members of each
group will sit together in agreed sections of the
Chamber.
Address from the Public
An address made by a member of the public may only
be presented if a summary of the text has been received by the
Democratic Services Manager no later than 12 noon three working
days before the meeting. The speech shall reflect the summary
provided.
The Monitoring Officer may rule out of order any
address that:
1 is
vexatious, derogatory, defamatory, frivolous or offensive;
2 concerns
a Council employment or staffing matter or sensitive personal
information about a Councillor;
3 is
unrelated to functions of the Committee; or
4 has been
previously considered in the last 6 months.
Questions From Members of the Public
Questions from members of the
public will only be permitted where they have been received by the
Democratic Services Manager no later than 12 noon three working
days before the meeting.
An answer may take the form
of:
a
a direct oral answer;
b
where the desired information is contained in a publication of the
Council or other published work, a reference to that publication;
or
c
where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written
answer circulated later to the questioner.