Speaking at Overview and Scrutiny Committees

Members of the public may make representations to any of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committees on any substantive item on the agenda, subject to them registering to speak.

Speakers at the Overview and Scrutiny Committees must declare any current or prospective financial or personal interest they may have in the subject and will be allowed to speak for three minutes.

There is a maximum number of six speakers allowed on any one agenda item, with speakers being taken in the order in which they have registered.

To register, you should contact the Committee Manager by 2.00pm one working day before the meeting, stating which item you wish to speak on. You can find out who the Committee Manager is by selecting the meeting you wish to speak at on the calendar of Committee meetings.

How a Scrutiny meeting is conducted

Elected and Co-Opted Members sit at the table with experts, Council officers and other witnesses being called to the table at relevant points during the meeting. The meeting will be guided by the Chair or Vice-Chair. Seats for members of the public are usually set to the side of the room. The meeting normally follows the running order on the front sheet of the agenda. It always starts with the formal business of recording apologies and confirming the minutes of the previous meeting as an accurate record of what was said and agreed. Following this, the meeting will move on to consider the items listed on the agenda. The running order can be changed by agreement with the Chair if, for example, someone speaking on one particular agenda item has to leave early.

If you would like further information, please contact the Committee Manager.