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Public Questions

Public Question Time - A Scheme of Operation

Subject to the following, a member or members of the public may ask a question, present a petition or make a statement on any matter which relates to the business of the Broads Authority or any of its committees.

1. Members of the public wanting to ask a question, present a petition or make a statement must give written notice of at least 4 working days to the Chief Executive, providing the question, petition or statement. The written notice should include the address and contact number of the member of public who will be asking the question, presenting the petition or making the statement. Petitions should include the nature and object of the petition and the names of those making it. If a member of the public wants to make a statement in support of or as background for their question or petition, this statement should be included with the written notice.  The maximum time allowed for a statement will be three minutes.
2. Any questions, petitions or statements deemed by the Chief Executive to be defamatory or which relate to a specific officer or member will not be included on the agenda and the member of the public will be informed in writing accordingly.  In consultation with the member of the public the Chief Executive may edit a question or statement to summarise the content. The member of the public must be available at the meeting to ask the question, present the petition or make the statement.  If the member of the public is unable to attend the meeting, the question, petition or statement will be withdrawn from the agenda; in such instances a written answer will be provided to any questions provided within 20 working days.
3. A 20 minute time allocation shall be allowed at the beginning of all meetings for dealing with such questions, petitions and statements, which will be held in that order.
4. The Chairman or Vice-Chairman will invite the questioner to read his/her question and, where included within the written notice, allow them to make a statement explaining the background to their question. A prepared response will be spoken to by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Authority or the relevant Committee Chairman.  At the discretion of the Chairman the questioner may be allowed to ask a supplementary question, which may be answered by the appropriate Committee Chairman or officer if the necessary information is available.  If not, a written answer will be provided within 20 working days.
5. Following questions, the Chairman will invite members of the public to deliver their petitions and, where included within the written notice, allow them to make a statement.  Following the delivery of petitions, the Chairman will invite statements to be read.
6. Except at the discretion of the Chairman there will be no debate during the Public Question Time on the question(s) and answer(s) provided, or petitions and statements presented.  However, if members of the Authority so decide, it may be agreed to refer the matter to the next appropriate meeting and to request an officer’s report.
7. A record of questions asked (together with replies given), petitions delivered and statements made will be recorded in the formal minutes of the meeting.