deputation

✅ Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Deputation to a UK Council (on Women’s Sex-Based Rights)

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1. What is a Deputation?

A deputation is when members of the public formally address a council meeting to express views or concerns on a specific issue. It's your democratic right to be heard.

• Usually 1 to 5 people can speak.

• You get up to 5 minutes.

• Most councils allow one deputation per topic per meeting.

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2. Find the Right Meeting

Visit your council’s website and look for:

• Full Council

• Cabinet or Executive

• Committee meetings (e.g. Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, Education, Equalities)

Pick the one most relevant to your topic (see examples below).

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3. Check the Council’s Deputation Rules

Rules vary slightly by council, but usually:

• Submit your request in writing (email or form).

• Send it 3–7 working days before the meeting.

• Include:

  • Your name and contact details

  • Names of any co-speakers

  • A short written statement of what you’ll say

  • The topic/issue

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4. Choose Your Topic

Here are examples of issues you could raise in your deputation:

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🔹 Residential Care & Women’s Rights

“We are asking the council to ensure that women in residential care settings have an automatic right to request female-only carers for intimate care, as provided for in the Equality Act 2010.”

🔹 Supreme Court Ruling on Gender Identity

“We urge the council to review all policies that conflate sex and gender identity, and to align guidance with the Forstater Supreme Court judgment, which affirms that sex-based beliefs are protected and legitimate.”

🔹 Safeguarding in Children’s Services

“We are concerned about the promotion of gender identity ideology in children’s services, including care homes and schools. The council must ensure staff guidance is neutral, evidence-based, and focused on child safeguarding.”

🔹 Public Facilities

“We are calling on the council to protect single-sex toilets, showers, and changing rooms in leisure centres and community venues, to comply with the Equality Act and safeguard women and girls.”

🔹 Foster Care and Training

“We are concerned that foster care guidance misrepresents the law. Training should make clear that sex is a protected characteristic, and that children must not be misled about the law on gender identity.”

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5. Write Your Deputation Statement

Make it:

• Polite, factual, and under 500 words

• Clearly focused on your ask (what you want the council to do)

📝 Example opening:

“We represent local residents concerned about the erosion of women’s sex-based rights in council services. We ask that the council ensures its policies fully comply with the Equality Act and recent legal rulings…”

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6. Send It In

Email the Democratic Services or Committee Services team listed on your council’s website. Include:

• Your name(s)

• The title/topic of the deputation

• The text you plan to say

• Which meeting it’s for

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7. Prepare and Deliver

• Practice your speech to fit in 5 minutes.

• Be confident, calm, and respectful.

• You may be asked questions, but not usually allowed to debate.

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8. Follow Up

• Email councillors who seemed interested or supportive.

• Share a summary online or with campaign networks.

• Consider submitting a petition or follow-up question at future meetings.

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🛠️ Extra Tips

• Quote or reference the Equality Act 2010 and Forstater ruling for legal backing.

• Focus on women’s rights, child safeguarding, and fairness.

• Use clear, simple language—councillors don’t all have legal or specialist knowledge.