Annual Parish (Village) Meeting – 28th April 2025. Greatworth School Hall. 7-9pm

There is often confusion between the Annual Parish Meeting and the Annual Parish Council Meeting.

A Parish Meeting is a meeting where people of the parish may speak about parish matters on the parish meeting agenda. A Parish Council Meeting is a meeting of the Parish Councillors, members of the public may only speak in public forum or at the discretion of the Parish Council Chairman. All Town and Parish Councils throughout England are required by law to hold an Annual Parish Meeting, which must take place between March and June (inclusive). Meetings should not commence before 6pm.(Local Government Act 1972).

The purpose of the Annual Parish meeting is to give the Parish Council, and other local organisations an opportunity to let local residents know what they have been doing over the past year. The meeting is also an opportunity for electors to have a say on anything they consider valuable to the people of the Parish. The Annual Parish Meeting is for all electors of the Parish. It is not a meeting of the Parish Council. Anyone is welcome to attend the meeting, however, only registered electors of the parish may speak and vote during the meeting. Any registered elector may ask a question of the Council at the Annual Parish Meeting which will usually be answered by the Chair, the Clerk or the Council, or a designated Councillor. An elector may also make a suggestion and comment on anything pertinent to the residents of the Parish. This will be welcomed and is the whole purpose of the meeting. The Chairman of the Council will usually convene and chair the Annual Parish Meeting. All Parish Councillors will be invited to attend the Annual Parish Meeting. With the exception of the Chairman, councillors rank the same as other members of the electorate at the Annual Parish Meeting.