Annual Parish Meeting

The Annual Parish Meeting is an opportunity for the public to express their opinion on what the Parish Council is doing and to make suggestions for new activities or services they would like to see made available.

It is a special meeting, held once a year, between 1 March and 30 June, where the Parish Council invite the press and public to hear reports from the Parish Council, Ward Councillors, Police, PCC, school and other parish organisations, about what they have achieved and their plans for the coming year. It is also an opportunity to discuss important issues such as the Parish Plan or the proposed By-pass. It is not the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council itself. In Elwick, the Chairman of the Parish Council will normally chair the Annual Parish Meeting. If s/he is unable to attend, either another Parish Councillor or the Clerk will chair the meeting.

No votes taken on items discussed at the Annual Parish Meeting ae binding on the Parish Council, although Councillors will consider them at their next meeting. Suggestions that are seen to be well supported, if found to be financially viable, will probably be implemented, though this may not be until the new financial year as the budget has already been agreed for the current year.

Only those members of the public on the electoral roll are entitled to vote on an issue – other members of the public may attend and express their views, but cannot vote.

The Parish Council’s Standing Orders are suspended for the Parish Meeting.

All this could make for a terrible formal affair, but here in Elwick we like to mix business with pleasure if we can, so, whilst we do conduct the formal business of the meeting, we also have wine & cheese, coffee & cake and use the occasion to be sociable, and get to know who does what and when!