SUPPLEMENTARY questions are set to be restored at full council meetings but councillors have been warned the situation will never be 'perfect'.

Warrington Borough Council has been under public and political pressure over the removal of the extra question since campaigner Richard Buttrey was refused an additional question last June.

The issue came before the constitution sub-committee at its Town Hall meeting on Thursday.

Members backed a proposal for the supplementary questions to be restored.

The move will come into effect after the updated constitution is passed at the council’s annual meeting on May 20.

Residents have been told that the supplementary 'must relate' to the subject matter of the initial question.

However, Matthew Cumberbatch, head of legal and democratic services, warned councillors to still expect a 'number of issues', which the authority can learn from 'as part of the process'.

He added: "I don't think you're ever going to get a perfect situation."

A time limit of five minutes will apply per question to cover the asking of the question and the response, as well as any supplementary question and response.

Any supplementary question will have a 30-second time limit.

The maximum number of questions that can be asked per meeting will remain at three.

Public question time at a meeting will, therefore, not exceed 15 minutes.

In relation to the question or a supplementary, the councillor may decline to answer, may reply orally or in writing, or may reply by reference to a published document or work of the council or a relevant body.