Asking questions at council meetings

How to put forward questions at council meetings and how they are then processed.

Below is the procedure set out in the Council's Constitution enabling members of public to make representations at Council meetings:

1. Members of the public may ask Executive members questions at ordinary council meetings, but any related statements submitted with the question will not be included in the meeting agenda.
2. Questions will normally be asked in the order they were received.  An exception to this is where similar questions are received.  In this instance the Mayor may group them together.
3. If more that 5 are received, the remaining questions and answers will be published in the Information Digest and a written response sent direct to the member of public.
4. To ask a question at a council meeting you must first submit it to the Chief Executive in writing or by email no later than midday 10 working days before the meeting. Each question must give the name and address of the questioner and must name the member of the Council to whom it is put.
5. At any one meeting no person may submit more than 2 questions. Similarly no more than 2 questions may be asked on behalf of an organisation.
6. The Chief Executive or Head of Democratic Services may reject a question if:
   1. it is not about a matter for which the local authority has a responsibility or which affects the borough;
   2. it is defamatory, frivolous or offensive;
   3. it is substantially the same as a question which has been put at a meeting of the council in the past six months; or
   4. it requires the disclosure of confidential or exempt information.
7. The Chief Executive or Head of Democratic Services will enter each question in a book open to public inspection and will immediately send a copy of the question to the relevant Councillor.  Rejected questions will include reasons for rejection.
8. Copies of all questions will be circulated to all Executive members and will be made available to the public attending the meeting.
9. The Mayor might indicate that a written reply will be given.
10. Unless the Mayor decides otherwise, no discussion will take place on any question.  However, any member may request that a matter raised by a question be referred to the Executive or the appropriate committee or sub-committee.  Once seconded, such a motion will be voted on without discussion.

To submit a question for a forthcoming Council meeting, please write to:

Question Time 
Democratic Services
Hertsmere Borough Council
Civic Offices
Elstree Way
Borehamwood
Herts
WD6 1WA

For further information, please contact Democratic Services on 020 8207 7558 or email: democratic.services@hertsmere.gov.uk