Public question time

As part of our drive to modernise and improve consultation with local people, a 30-minute question time period for members of the public has been included as part of our council meetings. 

How do I ask a question at a council meeting?

You may ask questions to members of the Cabinet and Chairs of committees, at present the questions must be received by email/ or via the online form (below) no later than midday 3 days before the day of the meeting (Monday of Full Council week).

Please note that we encourage you to submit your question to us at the earliest opportunity. 

If you leave it until the Monday deadline there may be a possibility that your question could be rejected due to time constraints and the Council being in a position to answer your question.  In that case your question, if accepted, would have to be asked at the following Council meeting.

You can ask no more than one question at each meeting and a name and address must be provided with the name and Town/City at the very least being made public.  A question may not be asked if it is substantially the same as one asked within the previous six-month period.

To find out the date of the next meeting please visit the calendar of meetings.

How do I submit a question?

Questions can be submitted through our online form.

Request to ask a question at Full Council 

Emailed questions should be submitted to Julie Thorpe, Head of Member Services on ju.thorpe@preston.gov.uk

Each question must give the name and address of the questioner and must name the Member of the Council to whom it is put.

How many questions can I ask?

You can only submit one question per meeting. However, you may ask a further question relating to the original question, without notice, to the person who replied to you.

What type of questions can I ask?

Questions should be about policy issues or refer to a subject of public interest. 

Questions concerning individual issues or concerns should be directed to the appropriate Council departments and Management Team.

The Chief Executive may reject a question if it:

• is not about a matter for which the local authority has a responsibility or which affects the city
• is defamatory, frivolous or offensive
• is substantially the same as a question which has been put at a meeting of the Council in the past six-months
• requires the disclosure of confidential or exempt information

For further details on the type of question that may be asked please contact Member Services by emailing committees@preston.gov.uk or call 01772 906112. 

Who will ask the question at the meeting?

You can attend the Council meeting yourself in person and ask the question. However if this is not possible, the Mayor will ask it on your behalf

In any event, a response to your question will be sent to you after the meeting.