How public meetings work at Sheffield City Council

Full Council and formal committee meetings of the Council have to be held as physical meetings and are open to the public.

If you would like to attend a meeting, please report to an Attendant in the Foyer at the Town Hall. You will then be directed to the meeting room.

We can't guarantee entrance to the Public Gallery for observers, so we recommend registering in advance by emailing committee@sheffield.gov.uk.

Priority is given to registered speakers and attendees.

Do not attend if you have COVID-19 symptoms.

The Public Gallery in the Town Hall Council Chamber can accommodate 50 persons. An overspill area will be provided in the event if more than 50 attend. The webcast of the meeting will be live streamed to the overspill room.

You can observe the meeting remotely by clicking on the ‘view the webcast’ link provided on the meeting page of the website.

A copy of the agenda and reports for public meetings are also available on our Committee structure page. You may not be able to see some reports because they contain confidential information. These items are usually marked * on the agenda.

Agenda and reports are available five clear working days before the meeting. A clear working day does not count weekends or bank holidays. This does not include the day that the agenda and reports are dispatched and the day of the meeting.

You can ask questions, make statements or submit petitions at Council meetings. This helps:

• hold the Council to account
• raise public awareness
• put items on public record

Any submissions you make should be respectful, factual and relevant.

We want to encourage greater citizen involvement in our city’s democracy. We are committed to ensuring that any citizen can raise a public question or petition and to providing an accurate and timely response that answers the question or issue raised.

For further details on public questions and statements, view our Public questions, statements and petitions at Council meetings webpage.

We welcome online and paper petitions. We recognise that they are one way in which people can let us know their concerns.

Petitions can be organised or signed by anyone who lives, works or studies in Sheffield. You can read our advice on how to submit or sign a petition at Sign or start a petition.