THE LEGAL POSITION of MEETINGS
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
The Local Government Act, Sch. 12, para 8 stipulates that legally constituted parishes in England must meet annually.
The Parish Council is required to convene the Annual Parish Meeting and to chair it should the Parish Council Chairman attend. Grendon Underwood Parish holds its Annual Parish Meeting in May, immediately prior to the Annual Parish Council meeting.
It is best practice to hold the Annual Parish Meeting separately from the Annual Parish Council Meeting as these are subject to different rules and legislation.
PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS
Parish Council meetings are of two sorts: an Annual Parish Council Meeting and at least three General Parish Council meetings, each year & each covered by different legislation.
The Local Government Act, Sch. 12, para 8 stipulates that local councils in England must meet annually.
In addition, “a parish council must meet on at least three other occasions during the year” – Local Government Act 1972, Sch. 12, paras 10(1) & 26(1) – “and may hold as many further meetings as it pleases”.
“Such meetings may be held by virtue of a standing order or they may be specially convened”.
“A local council may meet at any time of day, but the Annual Meeting is held at 6pm if no other time has been fixed for it” – Local Government Act, Sch. 12, paras 7 & 23.
They must be free, open to the public and publicised, at specified times, on lawful media channels – web site & noticeboards – to specify timing & venue.
Councillors are summoned to meetings by the Clerk with an Agenda specifying business proposed to be transacted. A Council can not lawfully decide on any matter not proposed in the Agenda circulated with the summons.
GENERAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS
Grendon Underwood Parish Council has opted to hold 9 General Parish Council Meetings and 1 Annual Parish Council Meeting in each Financial Year.
General Meetings are to be held at 19.45 in the Village Hall on the fourth Tuesday of each month except August and December when no open meeting will take place in those months.
ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
The Annual Parish Council Meeting will be held in May, immediately after the Annual Parish Meeting, subject to circumstances arising beyond Council control.