Council meetings

When you attend a meeting

• you can come in and leave whenever you like, as long as you don’t disturb the meeting
• sometimes, the public and press might be asked to leave if something private or sensitive is being talked about
• this doesn’t happen often – it’s only in special cases
• some meeting rooms have a public gallery where you can sit and watch
• other times, there will be chairs at the back of the room for you to sit on
• you can move around during the meeting, just try to be quiet while people are speaking
• if the door is closed to keep out noise, you can still open it and come in
• only stay out if there’s a sign on the door saying not to enter
  

• Questions may be asked during ‘Public Question Time’ at any of the Council’s meetings.
• The amount of time allowed for public questions and replies at Full Council shall be limited to a maximum of thirty minutes.
• At relevant committee meetings the maximum time is fifteen minutes.
• Questions may be asked without notice but to guarantee a full reply at the meeting, the question must be delivered in writing or by email to Democratic Services no later than two clear working days before the day of the meeting.
• Each question must give the name and contact details of the questioner, and must name the Councillor to whom it is to be put - send by email to Democratic.Services@iow.gov.uk
• If a written question has been submitted the questioner cannot also ask an oral question at the same meeting 
• The front desk “opens” for public wishing to attend the meeting half an hour before the meeting.
• The option to ask a supplementary question will be at the Chairman’s discretion.
• Once the defined period of time allowed for questions has passed (and assuming the Chairman has not extended this) then all remaining oral questions are left unanswered.
• No oral question will receive a guaranteed written response, unless the member responding indicates as such.
• Questions must be of relevance to the Council or, in the case of a committee, to the remit of that committee and you may only ask one question unless the Chairman decides otherwise.

When speaking at Full Council or a committee, the questioner needs to

• give their name
• restrict their question to that which was submitted ensuring it relates to matters relating to the functions of the local authority or relevant committee respectively
• be polite
• not make slanderous frivolous or offensive comments
• comply with any instruction given by the person presiding including as to time constraints
• not disclose confidential information nor exempt
• not make allegation about the conduct of any councillor or officer of the local authority

The Council has issued guidance on the recording of proceedings at meetings that are open to the public.

This guidance applies to any Council or committee meetings that are open to the public.

The council allows any member of the public or press to report on all public meetings subject to limited exceptions.

The term reporting includes the taking of photographs, filming, audio-recording, tweeting, blogging or generally reporting on proceedings.

The purpose of this protocol is to provide guidance, particularly, for members of the press or public on reporting of any council meeting which is held in public.

• download the guidance on recording at meetings (PDF, 118KB)

Registers of Interests for Isle of Wight Councillors are linked to the individual web pages for each councillor .

Co-opted IW Council Registers of Interests

• Designated Independent Person - Alistair Drain (PDF, 123KB)
• Designated Independent Person - John Matthews (PDF, 135KB)
• Pension Board Member - Barbara Milton (PDF, 301KB)

Town, Parish and Community Councils

Registers of interest for Town, Parish and Community Councils are linked to the individual web pages for each local council .