Who can attend?
Anyone can attend public meetings of the full council, cabinet, or committees.
Some meetings may be private if they involve confidential matters.
Want to ask a question?
You can ask a question at an ordinary meeting of the council if:
- you live, work, study, own or occupy property within the Norwich City Council area
- your question is directed to the Leader, a Cabinet member or the chair of the relevant committee
- your question is within the remit of the relevant committee
- you submit your question in writing or by email to DemocraticServices@norwich.gov.uk by midday, three clear working days before the meeting
- you provide your name, address and confirmation that you live, work, study, own or occupy property within the Norwich City Council area
- Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary Meetings do not include public questions.
Only one question may be submitted per person per meeting, and only one question may be submitted on behalf of any organisation.
What kind of questions are not allowed?
The Monitoring Officer may reject a question if it:
- is not about a matter:
- for which the council has responsibility; or
- which affects the city
- is defamatory, vexatious, frivolous or offensive
- is a statement rather than a question
- relates to an individual or the questioner's own particular circumstances
- is substantially the same as a question asked at a council meeting within the previous six months
- requires the disclosure of confidential or exempt information as defined in the Access to Information Procedure Rules
- names or identifies individual service users, officers, or members/staff of partner agencies
- is not submitted within the required timeframe
- does not include the name and address of the questioner
- exceeds 150 words
Special cases
- Planning or licensing meetings have different rules - check the agenda or contact the committee officer (name will be found on the top of the agenda).
- Annual General Meetings don’t include public questions.
