The Isle of Anglesey County Council will today (Monday, October 12th) launch a new Public Speaking Protocol for its Scrutiny Committees.
Both Scrutiny Committees play an important role in holding the work of decision makers on the County Council’s Executive, as well as other partner organisations, to account. They also help the authority deliver its priorities, support high standards of service delivery and promote improved efficiency and effectiveness.
Whilst there were already arrangements for public participation during the Scrutiny Committee meetings, the new Public Speaking Protocol now gives residents a clear, formal and accessible framework to make their views known.
As with all Council meetings, Scrutiny Committee meetings are currently being held virtually and so the adopted Protocol has been amended to take this into account. Under the implemented Protocol, members of the public can “attend” through the Zoom platform to make their contributions.
The amended Protocol provides detailed guidance on how one representative from each interested group can register to participate online and speak for five minutes at the meeting to make their views known. There is provision for individuals who do not have access to information technology for their written views to be read-out at the meeting.
Chair of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Gwilym O Jones, has welcomed the introduction of the new Public Speaking Protocol.
Cllr Jones said, “The new Protocol will help the public to understand the procedure that needs to be followed when they want to speak at Scrutiny Committee meetings.”
“I believe its introduction will raise awareness among the public that they can contribute to the Committees’ work whilst ensuring that a consistent framework is adopted. I would encourage the public to review the Committees’ Forward Work Programmes to ensure they are aware of forthcoming topics so they can register their intention to speak at Scrutiny Committee meetings and assist us as Councillors in our review of the Council’s decisions.”
Full Council approved the new Public Speaking Protocol at Scrutiny Committees at its meeting on September 8th, 2020.
The new Public Speaking Protocol for Scrutiny Committees can be found here: https://www.anglesey.gov.uk/en/Council/Scrutiny/Get-involved-with-scrutiny/Public-speaking-at-Scrutiny-Committees.aspx
The Corporate Scrutiny Committee and Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee’s Forward Work Programmes can also be found here:
https://www.anglesey.gov.uk/en/Council/Scrutiny/Scrutiny-Committees'-Forward-Work-Programme.aspx
Ends 12.10.20