(Sorry this is a bit boring, but now Local Committee meetings have been cut down to 3 a year, it would be a pity to miss the opportunity to make use of this one!) 

The Committee papers for the extra SCC Woking Local Committee Meeting on the 16th of September are now out and published on the SCC website at:

http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/legcom/CouncilP.nsf/MeetingsByDate?OpenView&Start=1&Count=30&Expand=10.8.11#10.8.11

The main item on the agenda is the plan and programme for ‘Woking Cycling Town’ (sic), and I’ll report back on this after the 16th.

But since this is a full, public meeting of the committee I’ve checked with the Local Partnership Team that it offers the usual opportunitites for public participation, by asking either a formal or an informal question. And you don’t actually have to be there to send in a written question.

This is what the SCC website says:

Asking an informal question

The Local Committee has a formal meeting at least three times a year. At the beginning of each meeting, there is an Open Public Question Time, where you can ask questions. This is usually between 6.00pm and 6.30pm.

The Local Committee cannot guarantee to answer on the spot but promises to get you an answer in ten working days or, if it is a particularly difficult question, to report progress made in that time.

These questions and responses are not recorded in the minutes.

Asking a formal written question

To get your question and the answer recorded in the official minutes, you need to submit it in writing (including email) to Surrey County Council Local Partnerships Team (Woking) at least four working days before one of the three formal meetings.

Any member of the public who is an elector of the Surrey County Council area can submit a written question on matters within the terms of reference of the committee, but there are some rules:

• questions cannot be asked on planning applications (it’s a Woking Borough Council responsibility)
• each person can ask only one question
• your question and the answer will be available on paper at the meeting
• you do not have the right to speak, except to read out your question and ask one supplementary question
• you can require the answer to be read out at the meeting
• no more than eight questions are allowed overall. If your question cannot be taken because there are more than eight already, you still receive a reply in writing, and you can ask for your question to be dealt with formally at the next meeting.

Asking a formal question can be a useful way of drawing attention to specific problems when SCC fails to answer, or only gives a bare acknowledgement and a reference number. (I’m sorry to say I’ve reached the point with one enquiry where I’m going to have to recommend to one of the resident in my Division he does just this as a way of drawing attention to a specific problem.) It’s also good because information gained this way is unambiguously in the public domain, and can be quoted, for example on websites like this!

Meetings are held in the Council Chamber of Woking Borough Council. For more information, contact Nick Porter, the Local Committee and Partnership Officer, on 01483  518095 (e-mail nick.porter@surreycc.gov.uk) or Shaista Salim, the Local Support Assistant, on 01483 518094 (e-mail shaista.salim@surreycc.gov.uk )