There are 5 scheduled ordinary meeting annually of Slough Borough Council. The meetings are held in February, April, July, October and December.

Every resident, regardless of their age and nationality, can ask 2 questions at these meetings but the questions must be submitted 7 days and 2 hours before the meeting starts.

• Address for questions
• Attending the Council Meeting
• Deadline
• On-line Form
• Your Questions

Every resident of Slough, except elected Borough Councillors, can ask 2 questions at every main council meeting.

In 2003, Labour restricted elected Councillors to a maximum of one question. In June 2004, the Conservative-BILLD coalition continued Labour's ban on Councillors asking more than one question.

Unlike other councils, Slough Borough Council does not hold regular monthly meetings. It has reduced the quantity of meetings of the full council to just 5 a year. These are held in February, April, July, October and December.

You can ask questions about any matter in which the Borough Council is involved. For example about outstanding housing repairs, neglected potholes in pavements and roads, cuts in local council facilities and in council services, the new Heart of Slough redevelopment project. The choice is yours.

Residents must put their questions in writing, must give a name and address but their questions do not have to be signed.

Sending in a question can be a good method to try to get prompt action when Slough Borough Council has failed to respond to your previously expressed concerns.

Main council meetings are held in the Council Chamber in the old Town Hall building. Meetings usually start at 19:00 hours (7:00 pm). The public can attend and listen to the proceedings in the public viewing gallery. Admission is free and toilet facilities are available.

Council meeting, where public questions can be asked, are on:

• Tuesday 24 July 2007
• Tuesday 9 October 2007
• Tuesday 11 December 2007
• Tuesday 5 February 2008
• Tuesday 22 April 2008

There are 3 parts to your question:

• Prefix your question

Written Question for Oral Answer by Cllr Richard Stokes, Leader of the Council, at the Council meeting on Tuesday (add the date of the meeting).

• Express your question as clearly as possible. Please try to exclude information which is not important to your question.
• Your name and address. If you do not want your personal details disclosed to 41 councillors, council staff and to members of the public, please ask the council NOT to reveal your name and address. You can request that your name is mentioned but not your address.

Most regrettably Slough Borough Council does not give you any legal guarantee your personal details (name and address) will not be abused by council staff and circulated to unknown people without your deliberate personal consent. (that is another reason why Slough's long suffering public need a fundamental reform of the way Slough Borough Council works and the way staff seem to do whatever they like whenever they like.)

Sending a question to the council is very simple. You do not need to use a special form. You can write, email, fax or use an on-line form.

There are 5 methods of getting your question to the Town Hall.

• by email - send it to both Miss Meek and Mr Barrett in case one of them is away

catherine.meek@slough.gov.uk
kevin.barrett@slough.gov.uk    

• by the on-line form
• by post

Mr K Barrett
Committee & Member Services
Slough Borough Council
Town Hall
Bath Road
SLOUGH SL1 3UG

• by fax

01753 - 87 51 71

• by personal delivery at any time. There is a letter box on the right side of the public entrance to the Town Hall (access via Ledgers Road and Bath Road) or you can leave your question with the Town Hall receptionist during office hours.

The Town Hall will confirm receipt of your questions, usually very promptly. If you do not receive an acknowledge within 5 working days, telephone the Town Hall on 01753 - 875 014 and speak to Mr Barrett.

Questions must be submitted in writing at least at least 7 days before the council meeting. The latest dates for the council to receive your questions are:

There is nothing to be afraid of or frightened about. Council staff and the councillors are ordinary people the same as you - no better and, usually, no worse.

One advantage of going to the Council Meeting is you are allowed to ask a supplementary or follow-up question which you do not have to reveal in advance.

You can chose whether to read out your question yourself or let the Mayor do it on your behalf.

If you want to attend the meeting and ask your questions and/or ask supplementary questions, please arrive at the Town Hall by 18:50 hours (6:50 pm). Please use the main door in the Bath Road entrance of the Town Hall opposite Salt Hill Park (and next to Legoland).

Inside the Town Hall, in the main corridor turn right and go upstairs to the Council Chamber on the first floor. Please wait outside the Chamber and you will contacted by a helpful council official. Toilets are at the top of the stairs (Ladies on the left, Gentlemen on the right - there is also a disabled toilet on the ground floor near the entrance).

• You do not have to ask a supplementary question. If you do, your supplementary question must relate to the topic being discussed.
• You can use your supplementary question to respond to the Council's answer.
• Your supplementary question does not have to be revealed in advance.
• You are allowed one supplementary question for each of your 2 written questions.