THE COUNCIL MEETING

 

The Council meeting involves all 53 members of the Council. 

It is responsible for the Policy Framework (statutory plans) and the Budget, which includes the allocation of financial resources to different services and projects, proposed contingency funds, setting the Council tax and decisions relating to the control of the Council’s borrowing requirement, the control of its capital expenditure and the setting of virement limits.

 

The Policy Framework means the following plans and strategies:

 

Children and Young People’s Plan

Community Safety and Drugs Partnership Strategy

Council’s Corporate Plan

Economic Development Strategy

Gambling Act Statement of Policies

Local Transport Plan

Medium Term Financial Strategy including:

·         Annual capital and revenue budget

·         Proposed contingencies, general reserves and specific reserves

·         Statutory Council Tax calculations

·         Treasury Management Policy and annual borrowing limits

·         The Chief Finance Officer’s statutory declarations on budget setting

·         Virement limits and

·         Scale of fees and charges

Pay Policy

Sustainable Community Strategy

Unitary Development Plan/Local Development Framework

Youth Justice Plan

 

DATES, TIMES AND VENUE OF MEETINGS

 

Meeting dates, times and venue are shown on the website.  The Council usually meets at 10.00 am on a Friday.  The Annual Meeting starts at 10.30 am. 

 

QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

 

With the exception of the Annual Meeting of Council a member of the public may ask a Cabinet Member or Chairperson of a Committee one question relevant to a matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the County.   Questions for the budget meeting of Council and extraordianary meetings must relate to items listed on the agenda.

 

*  The February Council meeting is an Ordinary meeting of the Council and is primarily reserved as the budget meeting.  A member of the public may ask a Cabinet Member or Chairperson of a Committee one question which must relate to matters listed on the Agenda.

 

Questions must be delivered in writing or by email (via councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk)  to the Monitoring Officer no later than 5.00 p.m. three clear working days before the day of the meeting (e.g. 5.00p.m. on a Monday where the meeting is on a Friday).

 

Public speaking at meetings of Council

 

1          HOW TO SUBMIT A FORMAL QUESTION TO COUNCIL

 

A member of the public may submit only one question at any meeting of the council. A question must be lodged with the Monitoring Officer no later than 5.00 p.m. three clear working days before the meeting.  Questions should be posted to: The Monitoring Officer, Herefordshire Council, The Shire Hall, St Peter’s Square, Hereford, HR1 2HX or emailed to councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk.  An email or letter will be sent acknowledging receipt of the question.

 

2          RESERVED SEATING FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS

 

A member of the public who has lodged a written question should identify themselves to a Council officer.  All written questions and answers will be made available, in writing, to members of the public prior to the commencement of the meeting; questions will be answered in the order in which they are received.

 

3          ASKING A SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION AT COUNCIL

 

A questioner who is present at the meeting may, at the discretion of the Chairperson, also put one supplementary question without notice to the member who has replied to the original question.  

 

A period of up to 30 minutes is set aside for the answering of questions and supplementary questions from members of the public.

 

The supplementary question must arise directly out of the original question or the reply. The Chairperson may reject a supplementary question if it does not adhere to the criteria set out in paragraph 4.1.49 of the constitution but in brief a supplementary question should not be:

 

·                longer than 140 words, take longer than a minute to ask or be in multiple parts

·                substantially the same or similar to a question which has been put at a meeting of the Council in the past six months

·                defamatory, frivolous or offensive.

 

A verbal response will be given to the supplementary question by the relevant Cabinet Member or Chairperson of a Committee, where appropriate.  A reply will be given at the meeting if possible.  If it cannot a written answer will be provided.

 

If you have any queries or would like further information about speaking at a Council meeting, please email councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk or telephone (01432) 383690.

 

PETITIONS

 

The Chairperson will be available 30 minutes before an ordinary Council meeting to receive petitions from local Councillors along with Herefordshire residents.

 

The petition(s) may be presented publicly and the press may be present. If you intend to present a petition to the Chairman please can you telephone (01432) 383690 and arrangements will be made.

 

The Chairperson will report the receipt of such petition(s) to the Council as part of the Chairman’s Announcements and shall present the petition(s) to the relevant Cabinet Member or Chairperson of Committee.

 

ATTENDANCE BY THE PUBLIC

 

Members of the Public are welcome to attend meetings of the Council but may be excluded from the meeting if business of a confidential or exempt nature is to be transacted.

 

In the event of a general disturbance which renders the conduct of business impossible, the Chairperson may adjourn the meeting for such a period as he/she considers expedient.

 

For further information on Council meetings please e-mail councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk