What is the Annual Parish Meeting?
There can be, and often is, confusion between the Annual Parish Meeting and the Annual Parish Council Meeting (its AGM).
All Parish and Town Councils throughout England are required 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 6.00pm.
The purpose of the meeting is so the Parish Council can explain what it has been doing over the past year and it enables the electors to have their say on anything they consider is important to the people of the Parish.
The Annual Parish Meeting is a meeting of all the local government electors for the Parish. It is NOT a Parish Council Meeting.
Anyone may attend but only registered electors of Sandiacre may speak and vote.
Any registered elector may ask questions of the Council, which will usually be answered by the Chairman, the Clerk, or a designated Councillor. An elector may also make suggestions and comment on anything relevant to the people of Sandiacre. This will be welcomed and is the purpose of the meeting.
The Chairman of the Parish Council will chair the meeting. If the Chair is not able to attend, then the meeting will elect a Chair from amongst those electors present. Usually Councillors do attend and will speak if required, but the purpose of the meeting is to enable the ordinary electors to have their say.
A written record of the meeting will be taken and will be presented at the next meeting of Council for consideration.
When and where is it held?
The Annual Parish Meeting for Sandiacre is scheduled for the first Tuesday in March and will be held at 6.40pm in Sandiacre Memorial Institute, unless otherwise stated.