Skip to main content

Press Release

New layout for Council Chamber

First Committee meeting under new arrangements

The first meeting of a Council Committee under the new constitutional arrangements took place on Wednesday.  The Environment and Transport Committee was a chance to see the new arrangements and layout of the Council Chamber, with officers now being required to speak from a lectern.

The Committee meetings will be structured so that each item is handled in a standard way:

  • officers are required to introduce their report,
  • elected Members have the opportunity to ask questions and
  • Members can then engage in political debate on the issue.

Another new development is the provision for elected Members who are not on the Committee to speak (for up to a maximum of 10 minutes upon agreement with the Chairperson)

Here is a diagram of the new Chamber layout for Committee meetings. The following points should be noted:

new layout for Council Chamber

  • All officers should occupy the first front row of seats as shown.
  • The Lead Officer [who will be agreed with the Chair prior to the meeting] takes their place next to the Chair.

  • In the event of all seats being used in the front row, officers may use seats provided for the public, but the public should not be unduly inconvenienced. For meetings where a large attendance is expected the meeting may be held in, or by video-conference to, the Main Hall.

  • Tea/coffee facilities are provided for Councillors only.

  • Seating and a table has been reserved for the media inside the door.

  • Seating has been reserved for all Councillors who are not Members of the Committee. A seat at the Committee has been reserved for when the Chair permits a non-member of the Committee to speak.

  • The 'top table' seating arrangements in terms of Committee Services and Vice-Chair may vary from time to time as the new arrangements progress, but alwaysin agreement with the Chair.

  • When asked by the Chair to address the Committee, officers must stand at the lectern and use the microphone.

  • The political debate by Councillors will not commence until officers have introduced the report, advised of any new information and/or answered questions from Councillors on points of clarification or explanation. Officers may be required to provide clarification during the course of a political debate, but they must not engage in the debate itself.

At the moment, these arrangements apply to the Executive Committee, the four main functional Committees, the Audit and Standards Committee and the Harbour Board.

You can view the calendar of upcoming Committee Meetings and see agenda packs for them by clicking on: http://www.shetland.gov.uk/coins/

 This can also be found by clicking on “Council Minutes” from the “Online Services” menu on the homepage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News List