Campaigner urges Arun to make question time longer

A CAMPAIGNER who helped to create Littlehampton’s Community Charter has asked for extra time for councillors to be quizzed by the public in the ‘interests of democracy’.

Littlehampton resident Terry Ellis used public question time at last Wednesday’s Arun District Council full council meeting to air his concerns that the public were not been given enough time to ask questions.

Mr Ellis said: “During public question time, we have one minute to ask our question, coupled with a reply. This means that approximately three questions per month will receive answers.

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“Given the consistently controversial decision making on the part of the council, more and more people want to attend full council and submit public questions – will the council consider extending public question time to 30 minutes on a permanent basis?”

Mr Ellis also called for Arun to hold one or two public meetings a year where questions could be asked of the council’s cabinet members and officials so an ‘honest and open debate under a chairman could take place’.

Councillor Dudley Wensley, Arun’s deputy leader and cabinet member for corporate governance, responded to Mr Ellis’ question.

He said: “We welcome questions for members of the public and we also welcome their presence at meetings of the council because that is good for democracy.

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“However, anyone can ask a question of the council or councillors at anytime, the contact details are on the website. It does not need a meeting of the council to ask a question, and there is a link on the website ask the leader. As an alternative, a resident can also ask their ward councillor.”

Mr Wensley said changing the procedure of asking questions was an issue for the council to determine.

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