Please note that some meetings will be video recorded for subsequent broadcasting via the Council's website.
At the start of the meeting, the Provost (or Committee Chair) will confirm if all or part or the meeting is being video recorded. You should be aware that the Council is a Data Controller under the Data Protection Act 2018. Data collected during this video recording will be retained in accordance with the Council's records retention policy, including, but not limited to, for the purpose of keeping historical records and making those records available via the Council's website.
Generally, the press and public seating areas will not be video recorded, However, by entering the Council Chambers and using the press and public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and consenting to the use and storage of those images and sound recordings and any information pertaining to you contained in them for broadcasting or training purposes and for the purpose of keeping historical records and making those records available to the public.
How do I know about meetings?
View our list of meetings for the whole year. Our meetings calendar will give you information about the date, time and name of the committee. It also includes meeting information on some external organisations to which members of the public are not allowed and if you're in any doubt, please contact us to check. Find out more information on the work of the different committees.
How do I know what business is going to be discussed?
Agendas and accompanying reports are published online, normally six days prior to the meeting.
What meetings can I attend?
Most Council and committee meetings are open to the public. Sometimes there is business that cannot be discussed in public. This is called "exempt". Exempt business is usually considered after the public business is finished. If there is any exempt business you would be asked to leave at that time. The full detail of exempt business is not included in the public agenda. Exempt business is the exception. The business the Council may discuss in private is controlled by law.
Photographing and recording meetings
Taking photographs and recording during proceedings of the Council and its committees is prohibited.
What do I have to do to attend a meeting?
You can simply turn up at the council offices, but you may telephone in advance if you wish. Meetings are normally held at Council Headquarters, London Road, Kilmarnock.
It's best to arrive a few minutes before the start time but you can still go into a meeting that has already begun.
You should tell the person at the reception desk that you want to attend the meeting. A member of staff will show you where to go. You will be given a visitor badge to wear. You should be offered a copy of the agenda but don't be afraid to ask for one.
You will be invited to sit in the area of the meeting room reserved for the public. You are not allowed to take part in any of the debates and you cannot vote. You can leave the meeting at any time.
The Chair and Vice-Chair sit at the top table and the Chair conducts the meeting. The procedures may seem strange if you're not used to attending meetings but we hope you won't feel put off. The formalities aren't there to intimidate you. They exist to ensure that business and debate is fair and disciplined.
The right of the public and press to attend meetings is without prejudice to the Council's power to exclude to suppress or prevent disorderly conduct or other misbehaviour at a meeting.
Delayed Recordings of Meetings
From August 2021 certain committee meetings will be recorded and posted on the website the next working day.
Publication of minutes
After a Council or committee meeting, a copy of the minutes of the meeting will be published on our Committees page.