A: The Annual Meeting of the Parish Council must be held in the month of May and in an election year the meeting must be held between 4 and 14 days after polling day. This is the meeting of the parish council where they elect the chairman, make other annual appointments and review their insurance, risk management policies, etc.

The Annual Parish Meeting can be held between the 1st March and the 30th June . This is the meeting where the parish council invite the public and press to hear reports from the Chairman, District & County Councillors, maybe from Neighbourhood Watch or any organisation that the council gave significant funding to. There should also be an opportunity for the public and press to express their opinions on what the council are doing. No votes taken at this meeting are binding on the parish council although they should consider them at the next meeting of the parish council. Only members on the electoral roll can vote on an issue – other members of the public can attend and express their opinions but not vote.

A great many councils hold the two meetings on the same evening during May as they feel that they will not get the few people who do attend to come out twice. It is important if they are held on the same evening that there is at least a two minute gap to demonstrate that a different meeting is now taking place. There is no rule about which should take place first.

It is recommended that in an election year the Annual Parish Meeting should be held after the elections to prevent the meeting being used as a “hustings” for potential District and County Councillors.