Public to have their say at council meetings

Members of the public will have a right to speak and question politicians at full meetings of Devon County Council, if new proposals are agreed.

The council’s Conservative leader John Hart says people should be able to make representations and quiz Cabinet members at the start of each full council meeting and during the annual scrutiny committee examination of the budget.

The plans were agreed unanimously at a meeting of the council’s political leaders and whips.

They will enable members of the public to make representations, present petitions and ask questions at the beginning of each full council meeting as long as they give notice by noon the day before the meeting.

Mr Hart said: “We are faced with making significant savings in our budget which are undoubtedly having an effect on communities across the county.

“Since 2009, I have held public meetings across Devon every autumn as we start preparing the next year’s budget to hear what people think.

“This will allow people to come to County Hall and have their say to all the members of the council before final decisions are made.

“People have a right to come and tell us what they think.”

The move will have to be ratified by the full council.

Liberal Democrat leader Alan Connett said he was happy to try out the new system for 12 or 18 months and then review it.

Labour leader Richard Westlake said he wanted to see more public participation but he did not want it to be abused by members of the public or councillors themselves.