Public involvement at Council and Committee Meetings
Members of the public are welcome to attend committee meetings.
See upcoming committee meetings
This section outlines how members of the public can ask questions and submit petitions to the Council.
Questions from members of the public
The Council welcomes questions from members of the public at meetings of the Council, Cabinet and committee meetings.
Due to the formality of meetings of full Council, there are different rules in place for giving notice to ask questions. There is no requirement to give notice for questions at meetings of Cabinet or other committees.
As a general principle at all meetings, you will be allowed to ask one question and one supplementary question. The Chair of the meeting has the discretion to allow more than one question.
You can find out how to ask questions at Council below.
Who can ask questions at Full Council meetings?
Eligibility to ask questions is restricted to members of the public who live (as an elector (or resident with), in employment (as your principle or only place of work) or are in education (at one of the borough's education establishments).
Eligibility is checked.
How much notice is needed to submit or ask a question?
A person may only ask a question if notice of it has been given in writing (or by email) no later than 10am three working days in advance. For example, Friday for a meeting on the Wednesday - five days later.
The person submitting the question must give their name and address and name the councillor to whom the question is being put.
Email: governance@rotherham.gov.uk
Are the questions asked in any specific order?
Questions are asked in the order in which they were received (please note that the Mayor may group together similar questions).
How many questions can you submit?
A person can submit one question at any given meeting
How are details of questions submitted recorded?
Each question submitted is entered in a book that is open to the public. A copy of the question is sent to the councillor to whom it is to be put. Rejected questions will include reasons for rejection. Copies of all questions will be circulated to all councillors no later than at the meeting and will be made available to the public attending the meeting. The question and the response provided will be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
On submission of a question for a Council Meeting you are consenting to your name being published on the Council Website
What is the protocol for asking the question at the meeting?
The Mayor will invite the questioner to put the question to the councillor named in the notice. If a questioner is unable to attend the meeting, a written reply will be given.
What is the position on asking supplementary questions?
If a member of the public asks a question in person they may also put one supplementary question to the councillor who has replied to their original question.
A supplementary question must arise directly out of the original question or the reply.
How will questions not answered at the meeting be dealt with?
Any question that cannot be dealt with during public question time will be dealt with by a written reply.
Petitions
See the guidelines for sumbitting a petition here.
