22. Attendance of Councillors at committees etc (CS)

Any Councillor may be present at a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee of which the Councillor is not a Member. The Councillor will be entitled to take part in the discussions generally, without giving notice, but is allowed to speak and vote only on any particular issue affecting the Members’ Ward which is delegated to the Committee or sub-committee provided written notification is given to the Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support Services and is received by him/her not later than 24 hours prior to the time at which the meeting is scheduled to commence. The Chairman will decide whether, in the circumstances of any matter, the provisions of this Standing Order will apply to the Member who has given notice, and the Chairman’s ruling, which will be given as soon as possible after the start of the meeting, will be final.
A Councillor cannot speak and vote in terms of the provisions at 22.1 above at a meeting of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee when it is considering an application for planning permission, nor in similar circumstances when a Local Review Panel is considering an appeal in respect of an application for planning permission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 22.1 a Councillor cannot be present at a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee of which she/he is not a Member when:-

The public have been excluded from the meeting; and
The meeting is considering a matter where the decision may affect the interests of any person as an individual; and
The decision is made after a hearing by the Committee or Sub-Committee where the person has a right in terms of any law, Standing Order or administrative procedure, to be heard in person or by a representative.

On a matter where the decision may affect the interests or rights of any person as an individual; and
Where the person has a right in terms of any law, Standing Order or administrative procedure, to be heard in person or by a representative.

Members of the Committee or Sub-Committee may only take part in or vote on the matter if they have attended the entire proceedings of the hearing.

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