A Guidance Note on Attending Meetings
This page is designed to provide you with information if you are to attend a meeting of the Council.
Can I attend meetings of the Council?
Generally all meetings are open to the public and you can stay for as long as you want. Occasionally some meetings may have to discuss an item in private if it involves confidential information. You will be asked to leave the meeting during consideration of that item, which would usually be left until the end of the meeting.
How can I find out when meetings will be held?
By using the links on the left under the 'Council Meetings' heading you can find further information on all the Council's meetings, including meeting dates. A list of this week's meetings is also available.
How can I find out what is to be considered at a meeting?
You can use the links on the left under the 'Council Meetings' heading to access details of the meeting you are interested in. This will include the agenda (this is a list of the items to be considered at the meeting), minutes and available reports.
A copy of the agendas are also available for inspection at the First Stop Reception, Town Hall, Pinstone Street between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9.00 a.m. and 4.45 p.m. on Friday. Use this link to the streetmap website for a map showing the Town Hall - this will open in a new window.
What will happen at the meeting?
There will be places for members of the public to sit in the room. A copy of the agenda for the meeting will usually be available from the Committee Secretary at the meeting (their name and contact details will appear on the agenda) but you may have to share if a lot of people attend. The councillors will be sat at the table (the arrangements at Area Panel meetings can be less formal).
Can I ask a question or submit a petition?
Meetings of the Full Council, Cabinet, Area Panels and Scrutiny Boards have an agenda item called 'Public Questions and Petitions'. This gives members of the public the opportunity to ask questions and submit petitions (these must contain at least six signatures). If it is not possible to answer your question at the meeting, you will receive a written reply within 14 days. Members of the public must attend in person to ask any questions or submit a petition.
If you want to speak at any other time during the meeting, you must get permission from the Chair of the meeting and it is best that you tell the Committee Secretary before the meeting has started. There is greater public involvement at Area Panel meetings and you will have more chance to speak on the items being discussed.
Information is available on your chance to speak on planning applications at meetings of the Planning and Highways Area Boards. The link will take you to the Development Control pages.
Further information is also available on involvement in Scrutiny Board meetings.
How are decisions made?
The Councillors at each meeting consider the reports and advice from officers and reach a decison on that information. In the case of Scrutiny Boards this can also involve evidence from people and organisations outside of the Council and it can sometimes take several meetings before the Board reaches its conclusions and makes any recommendations to the Cabinet or Council.
At Area Panel meetings members of the public will usually be given an opportunity to express their views before the councillors make a decision.
Further information
If you want any further information for the meeting you are attending you can visit the relevant webpage using the links on the left under the 'Council Meetings' heading, email committee@sheffield.gov.uk or telephone Dave Ross, Principal Committee Secretary, on 0114 2735033.
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