The Annual Parish Meeting
The Annual Parish Meeting is a legacy from the Middle Ages, when Local Councils did not exist, and all local decision making was carried out by meetings of the whole community, normally taking place in the church vestry. In legal terms, it is a quite separate body from the Parish Council, although it is invariably the Parish Council that arranges it. Although the Annual Parish Meeting is normally called by the Chair of the Parish Council it may also be called by at least six residents of the Parish that have the right to vote at an election. Its decisions are not binding on the Parish Council, though the Parish Council will normally take heed of what is said at the meeting.
The Annual Parish Meeting is open to all electors of Lanreath Parish, who have the right not only to attend but also to speak on any matter of local interest. This is in contrast to a Council meeting, where electors who are not Councillors have no automatic right to speak (though the Parish Council does have set times before or after the Council meeting when electors can raise matters of concern to them).
The Annual Parish meeting has its own minutes, which should be kept separately from the Parish Council minutes, and these minutes can only be approved by the next Annual Parish Meeting which will, of course, not be held until the following year. It is however, good practice to bring the draft minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting to the next convenient meeting of the Parish Council, since otherwise matters are unlikely to get progressed, however, the Parish Council does not actually approve these minutes, as they do not belong to the Council.
The Annual Parish Meeting must be held each year between March 1st and June 1st. The Chairman of the Council must, if she/he is present, take the chair – even if she/he is not an elector for the parish. If the Chairman is not present, the Vice-chairman of the Council must preside. If the Vice-Chairman is not present, then the Meeting must elect a Chairman, for this meeting only, from amongst the local electors present. The Chairman has the casting vote in addition to her/his own vote.
Although the Annual Parish Meeting is open to all members of the public and press, only local electors have the rights to speak and vote at the Annual Parish Meeting. All issues are decided by majority vote of those present with each resident entitled to vote having one vote per issue. Parish Councillors attending the Annual Parish Meeting, if they are on the Electoral Roll for the Parish, have the same voting rights as other electors.
Unlike the Parish Council Meetings, where the agenda must be published at least three working days prior to the meeting, Agenda items for the Annual Parish Meeting may be added up to, or even during the meeting.
The date, time and place of the Parish Meeting must be published by public notice at least 7 clear working days prior to the meeting.