(The Chairman, in the following context, may be either male or female as shown
in the Oxford Dictionary and no bias is intended.)
The Parish Council, not to be confused with the Parish Church Council, was first
formed in March 1932. From the early beginnings with six councillors we now have
ten and a Clerk. The Councillors are either elected by the village electorate or
co-opted through a laid down procedure.
Full Council meet on the third Wednesday of each month in the Village Hall
commencing at 7.30pm A further meeting is normally held on the first Wednesday
of each month and Council try and restrict the business of this meeting to
planning matters only. If no new planning is received this meeting is not
normally held. As the make up of this meeting is the members of full Council we
can also discuss other urgent matters at this meeting. Each meeting is preceded
by an invitation to hold an open session. Any member of the public may speak
during this session and it is the public’s only opportunity to address the
Councillors. As matters raised may not previously have been known about no
Councillor or the Clerk have to respond to a question raised.
If you have a problem with any matter affecting council business, a planning
application, any suggestions that council might wish to consider in the future,
this is the time to make your views known. The matter might then be placed on a
future Agenda or your views expressed in favour or against a matter being
discussed. Again Council are not obliged to air your views but their duty is to
act in the best interests of the Parish they represent. Your views may not
however be the views of everyone.
Agenda for meetings are sent out in the week preceding the meeting date and only
items on that agenda may be discussed and decisions made. There is no any other
business on our agenda as due notice of the item must be included on the agenda.
If possible no meetings are held in August.
The Annual Parish Meeting or Annual Parish Assembly is normally held on the
first Wednesday in April each year. The meeting is normally preceded by a talk
and discussion of a topic of interest to our electorate.
Reports are given by the Chairman – report on the last 12 months business
The Clerk – report on the last audited financial year.
As a result of a question posed at the 2006 meeting it is proposed to give an
overview of the year just ended but this will not have been audited or approved
by Council.
Our County Councillor.
Our District Councillors.
The Parish Councils nominated School Governor.
This is followed by an open session to discuss any matter related to Council
business.
The Annual Parish Meeting is NOT a Council meeting and no matters can be agreed
at this meeting. A Councillor may, however, agree to have a matter placed on a
future Agenda.
The Parish Council Annual General Meeting is the meeting of full Council on the
third Wednesday in May. Whilst it is preceded by an open session where anyone
may comment, the meeting, unlike most AGM’s of organisations, is restricted to
discussion by Councillors only. The Chairman and Vice-chairman are elected and
the composition of Committees is also made. The Chairman of the Parish Council,
may attend any Committee meeting. If attending they must also Chair that
meeting. If the Chairman’s name is not included on a committee that committee
elect a chairman from within that number.
Only Councillors may speak during a Council meeting although the Clerk may be
given opportunity to speak if asked. Invited speakers, County or District
Councillors may also speak if permission is granted. It is therefore important
to ‘have your say’ during any open session. The Chairman, with agreement, may
close a meeting to hear a view from the public if it is deemed beneficial and
then re-open the meeting. This is not a regular occurrence and may be refused.
Anyone disrupting a meeting by speaking may be asked to leave.
If a Councillor has reason to believe they have an interest in any matter they
are obliged to declare that interest and take no part in any discussion or vote.
They would generally leave the meeting so that free speech is not inhibited if
they were to remain.
Non members of Council may be excluded if the discussion is deemed to be
prejudicial to Council or a member, or of a nature that would be beneficial to a
business competitor in the case of deciding contracts etc.
Council elections are held every fourth year and the next elections are due in
2007. In our case if more than ten names are put forward an election will be
necessary. If ten or less names are put forward they are elected without the
need for a vote. If there is a shortfall co-option procedures may be brought
into effect. After this any vacancy must be publicised and if more candidates
are named a by-election will be necessary. If ten members of the public write to
insist on an election one must be held even if no names are put forward – a
costly and wasted exercise. If no election is necessary names may be submitted
for consideration by co-option by Council. This could lead to a name being
submitted that Council do not approve. Further information can be obtained from
the Election Officer at East Hampshire District Council or more informally from
our Clerk.
Your Councillors are there for your benefit but they do sometimes need advising
that something is amiss or could be improved. As a responsible citizen it would
help Council if any such matter is brought to their attention. This is generally
carried out by contacting the Clerk or a Councillor. One anomaly regarding this
contact is regarding planning matters that you yourself wish to promote. A
Councillor, by communicating with you on a specific matter, may prejudice their
position and have to Declare an Interest and not be able to speak when the item
is on the agenda. A Councillor may speak with you in general terms but not
specific. This ruling is often hard to understand and a Councillor can be
considered to be ‘rude’ in not hearing you out. This is rarely the case and more
likely to be the Councillor protecting their position at future meetings. A
similar situation occurs if a Parish Councillor is also a District Councillor.
If they take part in Parish discussion they could bar themselves from discussing
the matter at Council. For a list of your current councillors, click
here
Why not come and see for yourself what your Parish Council does. You would be
most welcome – as would any ideas that will improve our village.