How will the council's budget meeting play out?

Unsure of what to expect when the council meets to approve its budget on March 1? We've put together a guide

DO you have a question you would like to ask West Berkshire Council about the proposed cuts to public services but don’t know how to go about it?

The council will debate and vote on proposals to save £17.5m at a key budget meeting on March 1.

They include closing libraries, children’s centres and care homes and cutting funding to museums, theatres, charities, roads and disabled children.

The meeting will take place at the West Berkshire Council offices in Market Street at 6.30pm and councillors will decide whether or not to approve all, or some, of the savings.

If you haven’t attended a council meeting before, or are unsure what to expect on the night, we have pulled together a guide which you might find useful.

The chairman of the council, Peter Argyle, will oversee the meeting and will first ask that the minutes from the previous meeting are signed and agreed before taking any apologies for absence.

Councillors will then be required to state whether they have any personal or prejudicial interests relating to any item on the agenda.

If a member of the public wishes to speak at the meeting, they have to submit their question in advance.

Questions, indicating the name of the person submitting it, must be submitted in writing by post or email to the head of strategic support no later than 10am two working days before the meeting.

The question will then be answered by either the leader of the council or the relevant councillor.

You will be allowed to ask one supplementary question based on the answer you are given, but you are not allowed to make statements, debate, or ask any more questions after that.

Once all the public and members questions have been asked, the chairman will run through the other items to be discussed on the agenda.

When it comes to the budget discussion, the leader of the council will make a short speech to introduce the item and after that recommend that it is accepted or rejected.

Councillors will then be able to debate the proposal before it is seconded.

Votes will then be recorded by a show of hands. Councillors can vote for, against or abstain from a proposal and have it recorded.

The number of votes will determine the outcome. In the event that it is tied, the chairman will have the casting vote.