Public Attendance at Council Meetings

Members of the public are welcome to attend council meetings.

Council meetings are open to the public and you can stay for all or part of the meeting. Observers of the meeting will be asked to sit in the public gallery and members of the public who have registered to speak in person will be guided to a seat in the Council Chamber.

Admittance to the public gallery is on a 'first come, first served' basis and public access will be from 30 minutes before the start time of the meeting. All Council meetings start at 6:30pm unless otherwise stated.

A copy of the agenda and meeting items will be published five clear days before the meeting and can be veiwed on our Committees page.

The law does not allow members of the public to attend for Part 2 items on the agenda. When Part 2 items on the agenda are being discussed you will be asked to leave.

Recording a Council Meeting

If you would like to record a council meeting you must notify us using the Notification of Recording a Committee Meeting form.

This form must be returned to us by 5:00pm at least one day before the meeting.

Speaking at a Council Meeting

It is easy for you to be heard by councillors at council meetings.

If you would like to submit a question/comment, or register to speak in person at a Council or Committee meeting please email committee.services@ribblevalley.gov.uk or call 01200 425111 by no later than noon on the day of the Committee meeting, or by the Friday before a Full Council meeting. 

Councillors need time to consider your questions and prepare a reply. Certain types of questions will not be answered - for example they will not answer any questions about personal circumstances.

The Council’s Standing Orders set out the meeting procedures including the protocol for Public Participation at Council and Committee meetings.  For further guidance please contact Democratic Services on 01200 414408 or 01200 413214.

For more information about attending council meetings see the GOV.UK guidance on attending and reporting meeting of local government.