Speaking at Licensing and Safety Committee meetings

Arranging to speak

To speak at the committee you must register with the council by midday on the Tuesday before the committee meeting.

Speakers are registered on a 'first-come' basis. Unless the first speaker gives up
that right, no other person may speak for or against the item.

To register, you must contact Democratic Services by emailing committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.

You must provide:

  • your name
  • your address
  • a daytime contact number
  • the agenda item you want to talk about

You must agree that the council can provide your details to any person wishing to speak in a like-minded manner, for or against the recommendation, in order for all objections to be covered.

The speaking rights are given to the first person registering on the understanding 
that their details will be passed on to any other party who registers a similar interest, 
in the expectation that the parties will liaise and a joint statement will be made.

We will not knowingly pass your details onto the media.

Location

The Licensing and Safety Committee usually meets on a Thursday at 7:30pm in the
Council Chamber at Time Square.

At the meeting

If registered to speak you must arrive at the venue for the meeting at least 15 minutes before the meeting.

The Democratic Services Officer will be present at the committee meeting. You must report to them when you arrive. If you fail to do this, you may not be permitted to speak.

When the committee reaches your item, the chair will call you to speak.

You may use the PA system in the chamber.

No other facilities will be provided by the council. You can leave any supporting 
information for the committee. The report will not be deferred if the registered speaker does not attend the meeting.

Order of speaking

The licensing officer will introduce the report and set out the recommendations.

The chair will invite the registered speaker for the motion to address the committee for a maximum of 3 minutes, followed by any registered speaker against the motion. This will be strictly enforced. The speaker will not be allowed to ask questions of councillors, officers or others.

Members of the committee may ask the speaker for clarification on any of the points 
raised.

The presenting officer will be invited to comment upon any of the points raised by the speakers before the committee continues with its deliberations.

Time limits

A maximum time of 6 minutes in total public speaking is allowed per item.

Content

Your speech must be relevant to the contents of the report in the agenda.

After the decision

Following public speaking, there is no internal appeal against a decision of the committee.

Judicial review, Magistrates’ Court appeals and references to the Local Government 
Ombudsman may be available in appropriate circumstances, subject to strict time limits.