Minutes:
Councillor O Temple.
In his role as Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Legal and Democratic Services, please can the Leader of the Council confirm how many questions were submitted by individuals to be asked at this council meeting, and the basis on which any were rejected?
Councillor Henig replied that the Legal and Democratic Services Portfolio area which he covered jointly with the Deputy Leader did not cover all parts of the Council’s Monitoring Officer, particularly in regards to the operation of the Constitution. Councillor Henig asked the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to respond to the question as there had been no input from him in this process.
The Head of Legal and Democratic Services informed Council that as at 10.15 a.m. on 22 February 129 questions had been received from individuals. They were of such a quantity that they could not have been dealt with in the 10 minutes allocated for public questions in the rules of procedure agreed by Council. Democratic Service staff assessed them as raising the same issues as were raised in previous questions put to the last Council or seeking information, replies to which would require the disclosure of exempt information. After consultation with the Chairman, an email was sent to all enquirers, in the following terms.
Thank you for your email.
Having taken advice from the Head of Legal and Democratic Services regarding your questions and comments received, we are unable to accept your question for our full Council meeting. The question would be in breach of the Council’s procedure rules because the issues raised are substantially the same as previously submitted questions. It may be that any response to your question would also require the disclosure of confidential or exempt information.
I understand that this will be disappointing to you, however, I have provided your details and comments to those officers who dealt with the recent consultation. They have advised me that the issues you have raised will be covered in response to the consultation.
Councillor Temple thanked Councillor Henig and the Head of Legal and Democratic Services for their reply.