Annual Parish Meetings

What is an Annual Parish Meeting?

There can be, and often is, confusion between the Annual Parish Meeting and the Annual Parish Council Meeting.  All Parish and Town Councils throughout England are reqired by law to hold an Annual Parish Meeting, which must take place between 1st March and the 1st June (inclusive).  Meetings should not commence before 6.00 pm.

What is the purpose of the Annual Parish Meeting?

The purpose of the meeting is so that the Parish Council and other local organisations can explain what they have been doing over the last year.  It also enables the electors to have their say on anything they consider is important to the people of the Parish.  

Who can attend the meeting?

The Annual Parish Meeting is a meeting for all the local government electors of the Parish.  It is not a meeting of the Parish Council.  Anyone may attend but only registered electors of the Parish may speak and vote during the meeting.

Will I be able to ask questions and make suggestions?

Any registered elector may ask questions of the Parish Council which will usually be answered by the Chair, the Clerk to the Council, or a designated councillor.  An elector may also make suggestions and comment on anything pertinent to the people of the parish.  This will be welcomed and is the whole purpose of the meeting.

Who will chair the meeting?

Although it is not a Parish Council Meeting it is normally the Chair of the Parish Council who Chairs the Annual Parish Meeting.

Will Parish Councillors be present?

All councillors representing the Parish will be invited to attend.  Councillors will also have  the opportunity to raise question and make comments if they wish.  However, the purpose of the meeting is to enable the ordinary electors to find out what is going on in their parish and to have their say.

If you would like to see a copy of any Agenda and Reports please select the year on the left hand side of the screen to display all available documents.