While the idea of attending may seem daunting at first, Town Council meetings are a great way to learn first-hand how local decisions are made, and are probably more interesting than you might expect! This Council makes its decisions in public and is committed to community engagement and therefore warmly invites members of the public and the press to attend meetings. Our meetings are now also live streamed via YouTube.
Advice for residents and visitors on how to present to a Town Council meeting
The Town Council warmly welcomes members of the public to observe all of its meetings (bar a few which are confidential or informal workshops). Council meetings are held at 7pm almost every Monday in the Council Chamber, Cornwall’s Meadow, Buckingham MK18 1RP, also online (via Zoom).
Anyone can watch our meetings as they are broadcast live on YouTube or you can catch up on the recording later.
You may, however, have something you want to say to the Town Council. This page will tell you more about attending a meeting to speak to the Council.
At the beginning of each meeting, 15 minutes in total are put aside for any members of our local public who wish to address the Town Councillors. This might be about a planning application matter, an idea for an entertainment event or a comment about the parks in our town – whatever is of concern to the person.
You may speak for up to 3 minutes unless directed by the chair of the meeting that you may speak for longer.
It is best by far if you select the right meeting to attend. For example, if it is a planning matter, it will be helpful if you talk to the Planning Committee rather than (say) the Town Centre and Events Committee. Schedules for forthcoming and future/past meetings and agendas can be found on this website. Generally the Town Councillors are keen to have presentations that link to the meeting agenda that is about to be discussed. The Town Clerk or Committee Clerk can advise you on this.
The Town Councillors will not debate what you have said although they may occasionally ask you a question or two, to dig into what you mean a little deeper or clarify one of your points. If your input relates directly to an item on the agenda (such as a planning matter) then usually the Chair of the meeting will suggest bringing that item forward in the meeting so that you don’t have to wait for all the other previous items to be gone through. At this point, your role is only to observe the debate, although sometimes the Councillors will ‘suspend Standing Orders’ to ask you for your views. Once Standing Orders are reinstated, the meeting with progress as before and decisions taken if needed.
You can submit written questions in advance of the meeting if you wish. These may be placed on the agenda. The Town Clerk or Committee Clerk can, of course, advise you of the best approach to take.
Council meetings start promptly at 7pm so you may want to arrive (or join the meeting if you’re attending online) a couple minutes early. There is guidance about how to set up a Zoom account and join online meetings.
The Committee Clerk or Chair will greet you and ensure the Chair knows that you wish to speak during the Public Session and which subject you intend to address. If you wish to attend the Public Session via Zoom, please contact the Town Clerk or Committee Clerk in advance for the access codes so that you can be part of the interactive meeting.
Facilities at the Council Chamber The toilets, including access and baby changing facilities, are open and cleaned regularly with a one in and one out policy. Please follow signage from the Council Chambers.
The Council is equipped with a Hearing Loop system, please let the Town Clerk or Committee Clerk know if you wish to use the system.
This all may sound very formal. Indeed parts of it are and have to be. But the Councillors will be keen to listen to you and hear what you have to say. And generally speaking the meetings are a lot of fun and there are many light-hearted moments throughout the meeting.
If you have attended a Town Council meeting, and would like to send anonymous feedback about your experience, you can do so using the form below.
Committee attendee feedback form
Fill in this form if you would like to tell us about your experience attending a Council meeting.
The data obtained will only be used with regards to this enquiry and will not be used for future marketing or passed on to any third parties. This is in accordance with GDPR. By filling in the information you give your explicit consent for your data to be used for this purpose only. For more information please read our privacy policy.
Interested in becoming a councillor?
Have you ever considered being a Councillor? It’s a great way to take part in making decisions about Buckingham.
Elections usually take place every four years. The timescales, advertising and process of elections is governed by a statutory procedure. All candidates must be proposed and seconded by electors of the relevant parish ward. Full qualification rules can be found here:
The following information is provided as a brief overview only and is not intended to replace the full guide above. We recommend that you read all the information before applying.
With a few exceptions you can be a Councillor if you are:
18 years of age or over at the date of your nomination, and
a UK citizen, Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, or a citizen of some member states of the European Union.
and either:
be a registered local government elector (voter) for the parish, or
occupying as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish area, or
your main or only place of work is in the parish area, or
living in the parish area (or within three miles of it).
Details of how to apply will appear in the relevant legal notices which can be found on our website and council chamber notice board during the relevant period.
If an existing Councillor post becomes vacant, the vacancy is advertised for a fixed period of time and – unless ten electors have requested a poll – the vacancy is filled by co-option at a subsequent council meeting. If you are interesting in a current Town Councillor vacancy then please complete the below questionnaire and send to the following address allow with a short statement (side of A4) on why you wish to be co-opted as a Town Councillor.