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Your right to ask Questions

For many years you have had the right to attend Council and committee meetings and listen to debates on any items of business which are not exempt or confidential.

You have the right to ask questions of the Chairman of the Council, the Leader of the Council and the Chairmen of Committees, and be present to hear their answers.

This page explains how to ask questions and the process that we have to follow to ensure that all questions are dealt with fairly and impartially.

The process may seem very formal. However, by following the process we can ensure that all questions are dealt with equally and your rights as a questioner will remain protected.

Public Question Time

At the beginning of every ordinary meeting of the Council/Policy Committees open to the public, 15 minutes will be allocated for questions from members of the public and local organisations. Each question will be allocated 2 minutes and the answer 3 minutes. Any additional question will be allocated 1 minute and the additional answer 2 minutes.

How can I ask a question?

Questions must be asked in writing, by e-mail or by completing the form on this website and delivered to the Council's Head of Legal and Democratic Services at the Council Offices, Westgate, Bridgnorth, democraticservices@bridgnorth-dc.gov.uk. If posting you may use the Council's Freepost address which you can write on your envelope as follows:

Bridgnorth District Council
FREEPOST MID 18635
Bridgnorth
WV16 4BR

Deadline

Questions must be received by no later than 12:00 pm (noon) TWO working days before the date of the meeting. (Dates of meetings are displayed on the Council's internal and external noticeboards and on this website. A list can be obtained from the Council Offices by telephoning Bridgnorth (01746) 713116).

About you

You must give your name and address, and the organisation/body (if any) you are representing.

About the questions

• Questions must be about matters for which the District Council has a responsibility or which affects the District.
• Questions must not be defamatory, frivolous or offensive.
• Questions must not require the disclosure of personal, confidential or exempt information.
• Questions must not be substantially the same as a question that has been asked at a meeting in the previous six months.
• At any one meeting you, or the organisation you are representing, may not ask more than one question (except as described in the next section).

(If you are uncertain whether your question is eligible, contact the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in Bridgnorth (01746) 713116 or email democraticservices@bridgnorth-dc.gov.uk)

Asking the question at the meeting

The Chairman will invite you to ask your question. If you are not able to be present you can ask a representative, or the Chairman, to ask the question on your behalf. However, if you are not present the Chairman may decide to give a written answer or decide that the question will not be dealt with at that meeting.

You may decide after hearing the answer that you would like to ask an additional question. This is fine as long as the additional question arises directly from the answer to the original question.

Written answers

Any question which cannot be dealt with during the Public Question Time, either because of lack of time or because of the non-attendance of the Councillor to whom it was to be put, will be dealt with by written answer.

No discussion on a question

Unless the meeting decides otherwise, no discussion will take place on any question.

Reference of a question to a Committee

If the meeting decides, a question may be referred to the appropriate Committee.

Further information or clarification

If you would like further information, help or clarification, over any aspects of this process, please contact the Council's Head of Legal and Democratic Services on Bridgnorth (01746) 713116, or email democraticservices@bridgnorth-dc.gov.uk or call in person at the Council Offices, Westgate, Bridgnorth.