Asking a question at Full Council
The Full Council meets five times during the year, known as the municipal year in local government. Full Council is chairs by the Mayor of Gravesham with all 39 Members present. They meet to decide the budget and policy framework for the Council.
It is at the annual meeting of Full Council, that the Mayor of Gravesham is elected and councillors for each committee are elected.
You can put forward a question to the Council to be answered at a Full Council meeting. There will be no more than 5 questions by the public at any meeting.
A question may only be asked if notice has been given. Notice should be 5 working days before the Council meeting, in writing or by email. You can browse dates of upcoming meetings.
If you wish to ask a question, please send to the Committee Section at the Civic Centre, Windmill Street, Gravesend, Kent DA12 1AU or emailed to committee.section@gravesham.gov.uk by the deadline.
Each question must:
- provide the name and address of the questioner
- the date of the intended meeting
- state if the questioner intends to ask at the meeting.
Alternatively, we can arrange for the question to be read aloud at the meeting. The questions will be set out within the agenda of the meeting (along with the questioner’s name).
You can also submit a petition for debate at Full Council which must be supported by at least 1,500 valid signatures. Read more about the process of submitting a petition.
Speaking at a Planning Committee meeting
Public speaking is an opportunity to highlight important points already made in your written representations by, addressing the Planning Committee when they are considering an application.
A maximum of three supporters and three objectors are permitted to speak at Planning Committee meetings. Speakers are selected on a first come, first served basis. Registered speakers may speak for a maximum of 3 minutes each.
Where there are several speakers with similar views, we would encourage those speakers to agree a spokesperson to present their views. However, the same limit of 6 speakers and the same time limit of 3 minutes each will apply.
You can register your intention to speak from midday 5 clear working days prior to the meeting. Registration will close at midday the day before the meeting. For example, for a Planning Committee meeting taking place on Wednesday, you would be able to register from midday on the Wednesday before until midday on the Tuesday the week of the meeting.
Read the full Planning Committee guidance
- To register to speak, please email Committee Services via committee.section@gravesham.gov.uk or call 01474 337248.
- Please clearly state whether you wish to speak for or against an application.
- We will require your name, contact details (email and/or telephone number) and your connection to the application.
Please note that your name will appear on a registered speaker list at the meeting as well as within the minutes for that meeting, which will be published on our website.
Speaking at a Licensing Panel meeting
Licensing Panels make decisions about applications received under the Licensing Act 2003 and the Gambling Act 2005.
If you want to speak at a Licensing Panel, there are rules for who can be heard at meetings.
When an application is submitted, you can make a representation. Accepted representations can attend the hearing and speak at a Licensing Panel. The applicant may attend the meeting and put their case forward to the Licensing Panel.
Meetings of Licensing Panels only take place as and when required. Therefore, if you have made a representation in response to an application, you would receive notification should a meeting be convened in respect of that application.
If you want to speak at Licensing Panel, you must return the relevant paperwork, which will be sent to you prior to the meeting, indicating that you wish to speak.
Alternatively, you can contact Committee Services via committee.section@gravesham.gov.uk or call 01474 337248.