Alnwick District Council is committed to involving its citizens in local democracy and the decision making process.

You are welcome to attend any meetings of the Council or its Committees and listen to the debate. The Council has always dealt with as much business as possible in the open part of the meeting. However, from time to time the agenda includes some items which must be discussed in private as they deal with information which is personal or sensitive for some other reason. You will be asked to leave the meeting before these items are discussed.

You are also entitled to see any of the background papers listed at the end of each report to be taken in public.

Public Participation at COUNCIL meetings

Members of the public may ask questions of the Leader of the Council, and any Chairman of a Committee at Ordinary Meetings of the Council provided that advance notice of the question has been given before 12 noon on the day of the meeting. Meetings of the Council commence at 6.30 p.m.

See page on public participation for guidence on asking a question at a Council Meeting.

Public Question Time

The Council also hold Public QuestionTimes, when members of the public have the opportunity to ask a question on a matter which affects the District and is within the control and powers of the Council. Questions can be put to the Leader of the Council, Chairmen of Committees and officers present. The Questions Times precede meetings of the Council held at Amble (in July), Rothbury (in October) and Alnwick (in February).

Public Participation at COMMITTEE Meetings

As a development of public participation at committee meetings, the public may speak on a subject which is on the public section of the agenda for the meeting provided that advance notice of the intention to speak is given before 12 noon on the day of the appropriate Committee, to the Committee Section.

The purpose of this is to enable the public to express their concerns direct to Councillors on any matters on the agenda to be taken into consideration when the matter is debated.

At which committee meetings may I speak and where and when do they take place?

You may speak at meetings of the following committees:-

Operations Executive
Policy Executive
Development Control
Policy Scrutiny and Overview
Operations Scrutiny and Overview

These meetings are usually held at the Council Chamber, 1 Clayport Street, Alnwick, and commence at 6.30 p.m.

 See page on public participation for guidence on public speaking at committee meetings.

Who should you contact?

Senior Committee Clerk Tel: 01665 510505
e-mail: Customerservices@alnwick.gov.uk
Fax: 01665 605099