Runnymede Borough Council constitution

Residents have a number of rights in their dealings with the Council. These are set out in more detail in Article 3. Some of these are legal rights, whilst others depend on the Council's own processes. The local Citizens’ Advice Bureau can advise on individuals' legal rights.

Where members of the public use certain Council services, for example as a Council tenant, they may have additional rights. These are not covered in this Constitution.

Residents have the right to

• vote at local elections if they are registered;
• contact their local Councillor
• buy a copy of the Constitution for a reasonable price which the Council will set;
• attend meetings of the Council and its Committees except where, for example, personal or confidential matters are being discussed;
• speak at meetings of the Council and the Planning Committee, in certain circumstances and subject to giving the required notice;
• petition to request a referendum on a mayoral form of executive;
• complain to the Council about any shortcomings in its services or the way people are dealt with;
• complain to the Ombudsman if they think the Council has not followed its procedures properly. However, they should only do this if they have first complained to the Council and are dissatisfied with the result.
• complain to the Council’s Monitoring Officer if they have evidence showing that a Councillor has broken the Council's Code of Conduct for Members.
• submit a petition to the Council.