When and Where Does The Council Meet?
The Press and Public are welcome to attend all Council meetings and the Public may put questions or make statements on any matter on the agenda in the public session at the commencement of each meeting. This is normally restricted to 15 minutes in total. Full Council Meetings are usually held in The Guildhall, Committee Meetings are usually held in the Otho Peter Suite, both rooms are within Launceston Town Hall and both have full access.
Committee Membership
Committee Members are appointed at the Annual General Meeting held in May each year; the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are ex officio voting members of all committees.
Agendas
Agendas are set by the Town Clerk in liaison with the Chair and Vice-Chair with “umbrella” responsibilities. However any Councillor can request any item to be put on the Agenda. This can be done informally either through the Town Clerk or Chair, or formally, by means of a motion, as per the Town Council’s Standing Orders (the Council’s operating rules and regulations). If, after discussion of an Agenda item, the Council decides that a Working Group should be formed to look at the matter in more detail then the membership and the remit of the Group will be agreed by the Council. The membership of the Group can also include people who are not Councillors, but who have knowledge or expertise relevant to the subject matter.
Agendas are issued a minimum of three clear days before a meeting and are posted on the Town Hall public notice board and on this website.
Minutes
The Minutes of the Council meetings are usually available 7 working days following the meeting, but are not council policy until they have been agreed and signed at the following meeting. They are not a verbatim account of the Meeting but detail decisions reached and record the voting. Minutes are available to the public either via this website, or at the Town Hall. They are also circulated to the various local media organisations so that they can report on the issues via newspapers and radio. Once a decision has been passed by the Council and a course of action identified, the work is organised and/or carried out by the Town Council’s Executive Officer, the Town Clerk, who leads a team of staff.
Please select the relevant webpage for each committee to view minutes and agendas. If you would like copies of Minutes not on the website, please contact the office to request a copy. Please note that a small charge will be made to cover photocopying and postage, or the Minutes can be emailed free of charge.
Terms of Reference May 2026
Guidelines for Broadcasting or Using Social Media at Council Meetings
The right to record, film and to broadcast meetings of the Council, Committees and Sub Committees is established following the Local Government Audit and Accountability Act 2014. This is in addition to the rights of the press and public to attend such meetings. Those attending should note the Guidelines