Liberal Democrat Councillors on B&NES have argued against proposed restrictions on the public’s right to speak at Council meetings.
Councillors, meeting for one of the six annual ‘full Council’ meetings, were asked to
consider amendments to the Council’s procedural rules. These amendments would have limited the number of questions and statements members of the public would be allowed to make at Council meetings. Councillor Dine Romero (Southdown), Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “I fear these proposals are something of a knee-jerk reaction after the November Council meeting, in which over eighty residents registered to speak on the Park and Ride consultation. When there is such strength of feeling in the local community, the administration should be listening, rather than asking ‘how can we stop so many people speaking next time?’”
A Council spokesperson said this week: “Full Council considered a report looking at various amendments to the constitution. Although a number of amendments were agreed, no proposals were brought forward that would prevent the public from speaking or tabling questions at full Council meetings.
“However, a cross-party working group will continue to look at possible changes,
including what happens in other councils. This is because the Council has a responsibility to balance the rights of residents to speak at meetings with the need (including relevant legal duties) to ensure that agenda items are debated, decisions taken and business concluded at Council meetings.”