Most of the major decisions
about the Council's business are made at meetings, which
are open to the public. Everyone has the right to attend
meetings of the Council and of committees and sub-committees
(although they may sometimes be excluded while particular
items concerning exempt matters are being discussed). The
Mayor has also decided that his fortnightly Proceedings
and his monthly cabinet meetings will take place in public.
Details of the dates and times of meetings are obtainable
from the Calendar.
There are a number of ways
in which you can make your voice heard, including speaking
at meetings, provided you have followed the correct steps
(see below).
Even if you can't attend
the meeting you can see the papers relating to decisions
made by the Mayor, the Council and its committees. These
are available at Council offices and local libraries. You
can also go to committee
section to download papers.
How can I get the council
or a committee to consider my views?
There are a number of ways
in which you can let councillors know your views:
The Council will make time
for local people to make deputations about specific subjects
to their Council representatives. This means you can come
along with 4 other people to a meeting and 3 of you may
put your case before the meeting. You will have 10 minutes
to speak and then Councillors may ask you questions. If
you wish to make a deputation you will need to contact Member
Services at Newham Town Hall. Please contact John
Mattock on 020 8430 3316 for further for details.
Deputations may be made at
any meeting of the Council, its committees or Cabinet on
receipt of a written notice at least five working days in
advance of the meeting or at the invitation of the Chief
Executive in consultation with the Councillors. On receiving
a request, the Chief Execuive will decide the appropriate
decision making body to which the Deputation should be referred
having consulted the Mayor or relevant Member and taking
account of the wishes of the Deputation.
(c) Petitions
You may ask a councillor
to present a petition to a Council meeting on your behalf
calling for action on a specific issue.
All councillors hold advice
sessions for local people to discuss any problems they may
have. Information about ward councillors and their surgeries
see Councillors
or the Call Centre on 020 8430 2000 if you wish to find
out who your ward councillor is.
(d) Public Question Time
Occasionally, time will be
set aside at Council meetings for public questions,. This
will be to deal with questions about matters that do not
fall within the responsibility or power of the Mayor. From
time to time the Mayor will be holding public question time
events in the community. If you wish to submit a question
to Council you will need to contact Member Services at Newham
Town hall. Contact John
Mattock on 020 8430 3316 for details. if you have a
question for the Mayor look out for one of his special events
and submit your question.
If you want to know more
about the Mayor's question time events, please contact the
Mayor’s Office - Anne
Baldwin on 020 8430 2108.
(e) Planning and Licensing
Applications
Development Control and Licensing
Committee decides major planning applications. Objectors
to planning applications, and applicants where an application
is objected or is recommended for refusal, may request to
speak at the Development Control and Licensing Committee.
(See below)
If you wish to speak on an
application you must contact Nigel
Harvey on 020 8430 3402 and ask to see the relevant
report, which is issued five clear working days before the
meeting. If you want to speak at the meeting you must give
written notice by noon two days before the meeting. Speakers
are usually allowed up to 5 minutes to speak, and the Committee
may then ask questions. You should not lobby individual
members of this committee as it could compromise their position
and prevent them from taking part in the decision.
There is also a Licensing
Sub-Committee, which decides on individual applications
for entertainment licenses, door supervisors (bouncers)
and sex establishments. Only objected applications come
before the Sub-Committee, and both applicants and objectors
have the right to speak. (See below). You should not lobby
individual members of this Sub-Committee as it could compromise
their position and prevent them from taking part in the
decision.
The procedures for the Development
Control and Licensing Committee and the Licensing Sub-Committee
are designed to safeguard the rights of applicants and objectors,
and to protect the reputation of the committees and their
Members. They take account of the recommendations of the
Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life and of the Human
Rights Act. If you intend to make representations to these
committees, you are strongly urged to read these procedures.
(f) Newham Community and
Police Forum
The Forum enables a two-way
flow of information between the police and the local community
as required under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
It may look at operational matters, the outcomes of complaints,
the attitude of the police and the community, generally
and towards one another, encourage greater understanding
of policing issue, and responses of the police and the community
to major incidents. It may not look at individual cases
or current investigations or allegations.
Members are appointed from
the Council and the police, as well as the borough’s MPs.
Other members are nominated from bodies with a close interest
in the police and justice system, such as the Crown Prosecution
Service and Victim Support. Other representatives are sought
form faith and equality groups, tenants and residents, the
education service and other bona fide community groups.
If you are interested in getting
involved in this important area, you should contact Nigel
Harvey on 020 8430 3402.
(g) Independent Custody
Visitor Panel
Independent Custody Visitors
are ordinary independent people who have volunteered to
visit police stations to make sure that the conditions in
which people are being detained are correct, and that detainees
are being properly looked after. The Independent Custody
Visitor Panel meets regularly to discuss any matters of
concern that lay visitors may have.
The Panel is always ready to
welcome new volunteers. If you are interested, please contact
Joy George
on 020 8430 3401.
(h) Education Appeals
We operate an independent appeals
service to hear appeals from parents/guardians whose children
have been refused admission to the school of their choice,
or who have been excluded from schools. These meetings are
sensitive and held in private. However, we are anxious to
maintain a well-trained and committed body of individuals
from the community who are prepared to volunteer to sit
on Appeals Panels and hear these cases. If you are interested
in making this contribution and would like an application
form, please contact Nigel
Harvey on 020 8430 3402.
Advice
Leisure
