Public Questions to Welsh County Borough Councils.

The request was partially successful.

Dear Welsh Government,

Please could you assist with information regarding the variable rights and ability of Welsh citizens to directly ask questions of their respective Councils.
Previously, wishing to obtain some information regarding my Borough Council at Bridgend, and their Partnership working as a member of the Regional Partnership Board, i discovered that i could not attend any Scrutiny Committee of Bridgend Council and ask my question. --- Also, Bridgend Council has never had a public question asked at a full Council meetings.( Questions must be submitted 10 days in advance, but meeting agendas are not published prior to 7 days in advance, and other stipulations are not clearly disclosed to encourage public questions.)
Likewise, Neath County Council simply does not allow any public questions.
However, i found that Swansea Council, as a Regional Partnership Board Member, actively encourages public questions, and allowed me to attend in person at a Scrutiny Committee, where i was able to direct my question at the Programme Manager of our Regional Partnership Board , who was attending Scrutiny Committee that day. Swansea Council also have a regular Scrutiny meeting where their Cabinet Members attend and answer questions in an open and accountable manner, and Swansea Council use social media to publish details.

Why should the rights of a citizen to ask questions of their Council, be so variable, and depend entirely upon where they live in Wales.?

Yours faithfully,

DAVID HAWKER

Welsh Government

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Hawker

 

Please find attached a response to your email of 8^th September as well as
your letter Julie James AM, Minister for Housing and Local Government.

 

Kind Regards

Amy

 

 

Amy Edwards

Democracy, Diversity and Remuneration/Democratiaeth, Amrywiaeth, a
Chydnabyddiaeth Ariannol.

Local Government Democracy/ Democratiaeth Lywodraeth Leol
Welsh Government
LLywodraeth Cymru
Tel/Ffon:0300 025 5194

 

Any statements or comments made above should be regarded as personal and
not necessarily those of the Welsh Government, any constituent part or
connected body.

Dylai'r datganiadau neu'r sylwadau uchod gael eu trin fel rhai personol ac
nid o reidrwydd fel datganiadau neu sylwadau gan Llywodraeth Cymru, unrhyw
ran ohon neu unrhyw gorff sy'n gysylltiedig ag ef.

 

 

Sganiwyd y neges hon am bob feirws hysbys wrth iddi adael Llywodraeth
Cymru. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd o ddifrif yr angen i ddiogelu eich
data. Os cysylltwch â Llywodraeth Cymru, mae ein [1]hysbysiad preifatrwydd
yn esbonio sut rydym yn defnyddio eich gwybodaeth a sut rydym yn diogelu
eich preifatrwydd. Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg. Byddwn yn
anfon ateb yn Gymraeg i ohebiaeth a dderbynnir yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd
gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi. On leaving the Welsh Government this
email was scanned for all known viruses. The Welsh Government takes the
protection of your data seriously. If you contact the Welsh Government
then our [2]Privacy Notice explains how we use your information and the
ways in which we protect your privacy. We welcome receiving correspondence
in Welsh. Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh
and corresponding in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding.

References

Visible links
1. file:///tmp/”https:/gov.wales/about/welsh-government-privacy-notice/?lang=cy”
2. https://gov.wales/about/welsh-government...