Deputations

Presenting Deputations at Council Meetings

If you live within the District of North West Leicestershire and feel strongly about something that concerns a District Council service or relates to an issue the District Council may be able to help with, you can present a deputation at a meeting of the Full Council.

Deputations are a way of lobbying the Council to let them know about a concern you have that is shared with people who you live or work near to.

How do I submit a deputation?

Any person or group of up to 5 people may submit a deputation to an ordinary meeting of the Council.

The request to present a deputation must be submitted in writing or electronic mail to the Head of Legal and Support Services via the Member Services Team (contact details below) at least 3 clear working days before the day of the meeting. See 'related documents for a list of deadlines for forthcoming Council and Cabinet meetings.

(A 'working' day excludes Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. The 3 'clear' days does not include the day the question is received or the date of the meeting. So for example, if a meeting is taking place on a Tuesday, the question would need to be submitted by 12 noon on the Wednesday before to allow Thursday, Friday and Monday as clear days)

• The deputation must:
• Be a matter that the Local Authority has a responsibility for or affects the district.
• Contain signatures from at least 5 people.

  The deputation must not:

• Be illegal, Scurrilous, improper or out of order.
• Relate to a specific planning application*

What happens at the meeting?

Deputations are taken at the beginning of the meeting. A maximum of two deputations only will be permitted at any meeting and will be taken in the order in which they were received. Only one deputation will be permitted if a petition has been received.

The deputation will fail to be presented if no one who has signed the deputation is not present.

The Chairman will invite you to present the deputation and you may address the meeting for up to 5 minutes. Members may ask questions and make comments for a further 5 Minutes.

The relevant Cabinet Member or Committee Chairman may then address the meeting for up to 3 minutes.

A vote on the deputation will not be taken at the meeting. A Member may propose that the subject matter be placed on the agenda for the next ordinary meeting of the relevant board or committee. If this is not proposed then the deputation will be referred to the relevant Director who will respond to the deputation in writing within 28 days.

After the meeting

You will be sent a copy of the minutes of the meeting from when your deputation was discussed shortly after the meeting, and if the matter is to be debated at a future meeting you will be advised of the date and your rights to attend.

*Any deputations relating to planning applications can be submitted to the Planning Department for consideration by the Planning Committee.