Ask a question at Cabinet

Asking a question

You have the opportunity to ask the Cabinet a question at every ordinary Cabinet and the Leader of the Council meeting on matters that concern or interest you. Questions must be submitted in advance and no later than 12.00 noon three working days before the date of the meeting.

• If you are asking a question that is substantially the same as one that has already been responded to, you will be forwarded a copy of the previous question and response instead of being allowed to ask the question in person.

You must Contact Cabinet Questions to submit questions beforehand.

Please note that public questions cannot be asked at special meetings of the Cabinet, unless the question specifically relates to an item on the agenda.

Protocol for members of the public wishing to speak at Cabinet

The Cabinet meeting begins at 9.30am with questions from the public. There is also an opportunity to ask a question about an agenda item. These must be submitted in advance.

Questions being rejected

We may reject a question if it:

• does not relate to a matter of concern or interest
• is not about a matter Cabinet have on the agenda for the meeting
• is defamatory, frivolous, offensive, vexatious or abusive
• is the same or similar to a question which has been asked at Cabinet in the past six months
• requires the release of confidential or exempt information
• is lengthy or a speech
• relates to a matter which is of purely personal concern to an individual or family members
• relates to court action or threatened court action that the person or group are taking against the Council
• is a request for compensation
• contains a statement which is untrue
• is not understandable

Speaking on items

• If you wish to speak about a matter being considered at the meeting, you must Contact Cabinet Questions, indicating the item you wish to speak on, no later than 12.00 noon three working days before the date of the meeting.
• If a group of people wish to speak on an item they will be asked to elect a spokesperson. A representative of the council will advise whether it is necessary to elect a spokesperson.
• Generally, representations will be the subject of a five minute time limit (except at the discretion of the chairman of the meeting).