16. GENERAL QUESTIONS
(1) A period not exceeding 30 minutes will be allowed at every ordinary Council meeting for questions on the general work or procedures of the Council which cannot be raised upon business before the Council.
PROVIDED that the question has been given in writing to the Chief Executive not later than 10.00 am on the Friday immediately preceding the meeting.
(2) No record of the question or answer shall be made in the minutes of the Council.
(3) Every question shall be asked and answered without discussion.
(4) The person to whom a question has been put may decline to answer.
(5) A supplementary question may be asked.
(6) No Member shall be permitted to ask more than one question consecutively at any meeting. If, however, the time limit of 30 minutes for questioning shall not have expired, he or she may be permitted to ask an additional question and if time still permits may ask a further question but not exceeding a maximum of three.
(7) A third question shall not be put until all Members who have given the required notice and who desire to do so, have asked a second question.
(8) Composite questions on one subject shall be regarded as one question.
(9) The Mayor may request, subject to the appropriate resolution being passed, that any question of which notice is given shall be asked and answered in private session.
17. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
(1) A period not exceeding 15 minutes shall be allowed at every ordinary Council Meeting for questions by the public.
(2) Any Member of the public whose name appears on the current Electoral Roll for Bournemouth may ask a question on the general work or procedures of the Council and upon matters which the Council has jurisdiction.
PROVIDED that the question has been given in writing to the Chief Executive not later than 10.00am on the Friday immediately preceding the meeting.
(3) The Mayor shall be the final arbiter upon the form of the question, whether it is acceptable and whether it relates to matters within the power of the Council.
(4) The Chief Executive shall insert the following item in the summons for each ordinary Council Meeting:
“Public Questions, if any.”
(5) No member of the public shall be permitted to ask more than one question consecutively at any meeting. If however the time limit of 15 minutes for questioning shall not have expired, a member of the public may be permitted to ask an additional question and, if time still permits, may ask a further question not exceeding a maximum of three.
(6) A third question shall not be put until all members of the public who have given the required notice and who desire to do so have asked a second question.
(7) Composite questions will not be permitted.
(8) Every question shall be asked and answered without discussion. No supplementary question may be asked.
(9) No record of questions or answers shall be made in the minutes of the Council.
18. QUESTIONS ON THE DISCHARGE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE DORSET POLICE AUTHORITY AND THE DORSET COMBINED FIRE AUTHORITY
(1) A Member may ask the Member of the Council in membership of the Dorset Police Authority or the Dorset Combined Fire Authority any question on their functions or on any report submitted to the Council PROVIDED that, the question has been given in writing to the Chief Executive prior to 12.00 noon on the Friday preceding the meeting.
(2) A supplementary question may be asked.
19. QUESTIONS ON REPORTS OF THE CABINET, A STATUTORY BOARD OR A SCRUTINY AND REVIEW PANEL
(1) A member of the Council may ask, as appropriate:-
· the Leader of the Council, as Chair of the Cabinet
· the Cabinet Member with relevant Portfolio
· the Chair of any Statutory Board or Scrutiny and Review Panel
any question on an item of the report of the Cabinet, Statutory Board or Scrutiny and Review Panel when that item is being received or under consideration by the Council.
PROVIDED
(a) that the question is put before the Council’s consideration of the report.
(b) that the question has been given in writing to the Chief Executive not later than 10.00 a.m. on the date of the Council meeting.
(2) A Member asking a question may respond with a supplementary question if it is felt that the answer is not a direct response to the question put by the said Member.
(3) A question can be dealt with by way of a reference to the Council’s publication containing the information required.
(4) Where the reply to any question cannot conveniently be given verbally, the answer shall be added to the minutes of the meeting at which the question has been asked.
20. QUESTIONS ON MATTERS THAT HAVE BEEN DETERMINED UNDER DELEGATED POWERS BY THE CABINET, A STATUTORY BOARD OR A SCRUTINY AND REVIEW PANEL
(1) A Member of the Council may submit any question on the decisions of the Cabinet, a Statutory Board or a Scrutiny and Review Panel which have been taken under delegated powers and which are before the Council
PROVIDED that:-
(a) a period not exceeding 30 minutes will be allowed at every ordinary Council meeting for questions under this Rule.
(b) questions will be submitted in writing to the Chief Executive not later than 10.00am on the day of the Council meeting.
(c) questions not reached within the time limit of 30 minutes will be answered in writing by the Leader of the Council as Chair of the Cabinet, the Cabinet Member with relevant Portfolio or the Chair of the appropriate Statutory Board or Scrutiny and Review Panel. Each written answer will be sent to the Member submitting the question and a copy of each such question and answer shall be sent to the local press.
(d) no Member will be permitted to ask more than one question consecutively at any meeting. If, however, the time limit of 30 minutes has not expired, a Member may be permitted to ask an additional question.
(e) A supplementary question may be asked.
(f) every question will be asked and answered without discussion.
