An Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council is a regular meeting where the day-to-day business of the Council is discussed and decisions are made.

Ordinary meetings are held throughout the year in accordance with the agreed schedule of meetings. They are formal meetings of the Parish Council and are conducted in line with the Council’s Standing Orders and relevant legislation.

The purpose of an Ordinary Meeting is to:

• Consider and make decisions on matters affecting the parish

• Review planning applications and submit comments to the local planning authority

• Discuss finance, approve payments and monitor budgets

• Receive updates from councillors, the Clerk and outside organisations

• Address correspondence and resident concerns

Members of the public are welcome to attend and are given an opportunity to speak during the public participation section of the meeting. However, only elected councillors may take part in debates and vote on agenda items.

Ordinary meetings ensure that the ongoing work of the Parish Council is carried out transparently and that decisions are made in the best interests of the community.

An Annual Parish Assembly is a meeting for local government electors of the parish. It is not a Parish Council meeting, but a meeting of the parish itself.

Every parish in England must hold an Annual Parish Assembly between 1 March and 1 June each year. The meeting is usually organised and chaired by the Chair of the Parish Council, although it can be chaired by another person if necessary.

The purpose of the Assembly is to:

• Provide an opportunity for the Parish Council to report to residents on its activities over the past year

• Explain how public money has been spent and outline future plans

• Allow residents to raise issues, ask questions and share ideas about matters affecting the parish

• Offer local groups and organisations the chance to update the community on their work

All registered electors living in the parish are entitled to attend, speak and vote at the meeting. It is an important opportunity for residents to have their say on local matters and to engage directly with their Parish Council.

While the Parish Council arranges the meeting, the Annual Parish Assembly belongs to the community. It is designed to encourage open discussion and strengthen local involvement in parish life.

Annual Meeting 

An Annual Meeting of the Parish Council (often referred to as the Annual Meeting) is a formal meeting of the Parish Council held each year in May.

This meeting is different from the Annual Parish Assembly. The Annual Meeting is a council meeting, attended by elected councillors, and is held to carry out the Parish Council’s annual business.

The main purpose of the Annual Meeting is to:

• Elect the Chair of the Parish Council for the coming year

• Elect the Vice-Chair (if the Council chooses to do so)

• Confirm committee memberships and appointments to outside bodies

• Review and confirm key documents such as Standing Orders and Financial Regulations

• Agree the schedule of meetings for the year ahead

Members of the public are welcome to attend, and there is usually an opportunity to speak during the public participation section of the meeting. However, only elected councillors may vote on council business.

The Annual Meeting ensures the Parish Council is properly constituted for the municipal year and provides a clear structure for the Council’s work in the year ahead.