Deputations are a way of lobbying the council to let us know about a concern you have that is shared with people who you live or work near to.
How do I submit a deputation?
Any person or group of up to five people may submit a deputation to an ordinary meeting of the council.
The request to present a deputation must be submitted in writing or email to the Head of Legal and Commercial Services via the Member Services Team (contact details below) at least three clear working days before the day of the meeting*.
Find out more about upcoming Cabinet and Council meetings.
The deputation must:
- Be a matter we have a responsibility for or affects the district
- Contain signatures from at least five people.
The deputation must not:
- Be illegal, scurrilous, improper or out of order
- Relate to a specific planning application**
What happens at the meeting?
Deputations are taken at the beginning of the meeting.
A maximum of two deputations only will be permitted at any meeting and will be taken in the order they were received. Only one deputation will be permitted if a petition has been received.
The deputation will fail to be presented if no one who has signed the deputation is present.
The Chairman will invite you to present the deputation and you may address the meeting for up to five minutes. Members may ask questions and make comments for a further five minutes.
The relevant Cabinet Portfolio Holder or Committee Chairman may then address the meeting for up to three minutes.
A vote on the deputation will not be taken at the meeting.
A Member may propose that the subject matter be placed on the agenda for the next ordinary meeting of the relevant board or committee. If this is not proposed then the deputation will be referred to the relevant director, who will respond to the deputation in writing within 28 days.
After the meeting
You will be sent a copy of the minutes of the meeting from when your deputation was discussed shortly after the meeting, and if the matter is to be debated at a future meeting you will be advised of the date and your rights to attend.
*A 'working' day excludes Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. The 3 'clear' days does not include the day the question is received or the date of the meeting.So for example, if a meeting is taking place on a Tuesday, the question would need to be submitted by 12 noon on the Wednesday before to allow Thursday, Friday and Monday as clear days
**If you have a question relating to a planning application, it can be submitted to Planning Committee.
Last updated: Wed 5 August, 2020 @ 10:47