Parish Council

 

The Annual Parish Meeting - Casterton

 

It is becoming clear that many Parish Councils have decided NOT to convene their Annual Parish Meeting at the current time, but to defer it until later in the year, due to the coronavirus pandemic and the ever-changing government regulations surrounding meetings.

 

Whilst legislation states that an Annual Parish Meeting would be held each year  before 1st June, a Parish Council is not obliged to hold one.

 

The Chairman of the Parish Council has a power to convene but not a duty.

 

Traditionally it has been the Parish Council which has made the arrangements for the Annual Parish Meeting.

 

Casterton Parish Council MAY decide to convene an Annual Parish Meeting later in the year.

 

If a local government elector for Casterton parish complains about the failure to hold the meeting, then the Council draws attention to the power for any six of those electors to convene a Parish Meeting.  If that occurs then the Parish Council would not be under a legal obligation to make the practical arrangements to enable the meeting to take place.

 

Unless there are exceptional circumstances in a particular Parish Council's area it is probable that the risks of deferring the Annual Parish Meeting are low.

 

As face to face Parish Council meetings (without severe restrictions on numbers attending) cannot take place until after 21st June, the Parish Council will be holding its next meeting by ZOOM on Thursday 27th May 2021 at 7pm.  The joining link will be available nearer the time, as will the agenda.

 

Remote meetings have not been permissible since 6th May but (like many other Parish Councils) the Council has assessed the risks involved and decided this is the only way forward.  The Council expects to return to meetings in the Village Hall for the following meeting.

 

There are two vacancies on the Council at present - one application has been received.  If there are any other applications please contact the Parish Clerk before 19th May 2021.