Written Correspondence vs Written Questions

Question

If a Clerk receives written correspondence for a Committee or Council meeting, should that written correspondence be included in the meeting even if the correspondence is not in the form of a question?  The agenda of the meeting uses the specific phrase "Written Questions".
The standing orders state: "Members of the public may make representations, answer questions and give evidence at a meeting which they are entitled to attend in respect of the business on the agenda".

If the Clerk receives correspondence from a member of the public for a meeting which is not in the form of a written question what would you expect the Clerk to do if this means the correspondence will not submitted to the meeting.

Answer 1

When I was a clerk I received a huge amount of correspondence, much of which was not relevant to the work of the council!  I'd deal with whatever I could deal with directly (reporting potholes for example), add an agenda item about anything that needed a decision by council, note some in an "information only" item where relevant and bin the rest.  Sometimes you have to rely on the experience of the Clerk to avoid being inundated with dross but I guess it depends upon the experience of the Clerk.