A principal council shall in every year hold an annual meeting.

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An annual meeting of a principal council shall be held at such hour as the council may fix, or if no hour is so fixed at twelve noon.

A principal council may in every year hold, in addition to the annual meeting, such other meetings as they may determine.

Those other meetings shall be held at such hour and on such days as the council may determine.

An extraordinary meeting of a principal council may be called at any time by the chairman of the council.

If the chairman refuses to call an extraordinary meeting of a principal council after a requisition for that purpose, signed F4. . . by five members of the council, has been presented to him, or if, without so refusing, the chairman does not call an extraordinary meeting within seven days after the requisition has been presented to him, then F4. . . any five members of the council, on that refusal or on the expiration of those seven days, as the case may be, may forthwith call an extraordinary meeting of the council.

Meetings of a principal council shall be held at such place, either within or without their area, as they may direct.

If a member of a principal council F7in Wales gives notice in writing to the proper officer of the council that he desires summonses to attend meetings of the council to be sent to him at some address specified in the notice other than his place of residence, any summons addressed to him and left at or sent by post to that address shall be deemed sufficient service of the summons.

Want of service of a summons on any member of a principal council shall not affect the validity of a meeting of the council.

Except in the case of business required by or under this or any other Act to be transacted at the annual meeting of a principal council and other business brought before that meeting as a matter of urgency in accordance with the council’s standing orders, no business shall be transacted at a meeting of the council other than that specified in the summons relating thereto.

The Secretary of State may by order amend paragraph 4(2) above so as to substitute for the reference to three clear days such greater number of days as may be specified in the order.

Any statutory instrument containing an order under sub-paragraph (1) above shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

At a meeting of a principal council the chairman, if present, shall preside.

A member of an executive of a principal council may not be chosen to preside under sub-paragraph (3) above.

Sub-paragraphs (2)(c) and (3)(c) above do not apply where a London borough council are operating executive arrangements which involve a mayor and cabinet executive F15. . . . ”

A relevant police and crime commissioner may attend, speak at and vote at a meeting of a principal council in England which is a fire and rescue authority.

Paragraph 1 above applies to a joint authority F19, an economic prosperity board, F20or a combined authorityF21.... . . as it applies to a principal council, except that the annual meeting of the authority shall be held on such day between 1st March and 30th June (both inclusive) as the authority may fix.

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A parish council shall in every year hold an annual meeting.

In a year which is a year of ordinary elections of parish councillors, the annual meeting of a parish council shall be held on, or within fourteen days after, the day on which the councillors elected at that election take office, and in any other year the annual meeting shall be held on such day in May as the parish council may determine.

The annual meeting of a parish council shall be held at such hour as the council may fix or, if no hour is so fixed, 6 o’clock in the evening.

A parish council shall in every year hold, in addition to the annual meeting, such other meetings (not less than three) as they may determine.

Those other meetings shall be held at such hour and on such days as the council may determine.

An extraordinary meeting of a parish council may be called at any time by the chairman of the council.

If the chairman refuses to call an extraordinary meeting of the council after a requisition for that purpose, signed by two members of the council, has been presented to him, or if, without so refusing, the chairman does not call an extraordinary meeting within seven days after such a requisition has been presented to him, any two members of the council, on that refusal or on the expiration of those seven days, as the case may be, may forthwith convene an extraordinary meeting of the council.

Meetings of a parish council shall be held at such place, either within or without their area, as they may direct, but shall not be held in F27premises which at the time of such a meeting may, by virtue of a premises licence or temporary event notice under the Licensing Act 2003, be used for the supply of alcohol (within the meaning of section 14 of that Act) unless no other suitable room is available either free of charge or at a reasonable cost.

Want of service of any such summons as is referred to in sub-paragraph (2)(b) above on any member of the parish council concerned shall not affect the validity of the meeting.

At a meeting of a parish council the chairman of the council, if present, shall preside.

If the chairman of the council is absent from a meeting of the council, the vice-chairman of the council, if present, shall preside.

If both the chairman and vice-chairman of the council are absent from a meeting of the council, such councillor as the members of the council present shall choose shall preside.

Unless otherwise provided by the council’s standing orders the manner of voting at meetings of a parish council shall be by a show of hands.

On the requisition of any member of the council the voting on any question shall be recorded so as to show whether each member present and voting gave his vote for or against that question.

The parish meeting of a parish shall assemble annually on some day between 1st March and 1st June, both inclusive, in every year.

Subject to sub-paragraph (1) above and to sub-paragraph (3) below, parish meetings shall be held on such days and at such times as may be fixed by the parish council or, if there is no parish council, by the chairman of the parish meeting.

In a parish which does not have a separate parish council the parish meeting shall, subject to any provision made by a grouping order, assemble at least twice in every year.

The proceedings at a parish meeting shall not commence earlier than 6 o’clock in the evening.

A parish meeting shall not be held in F30premises which at the time of the meeting may, by virtue of a premises licence or temporary event notice under the Licensing Act 2003, be used for the supply of alcohol (within the meaning of section 14 of that Act) , except in cases where no other suitable room is available for such a meeting either free of charge or at a reasonable cost.

Not less than seven clear days, or, in a case falling within sub-paragraph (3) below, not less than fourteen clear days, before a parish meeting, public notice of the meeting shall be given, specifying the time and place of the intended meeting and the business to be transacted at the meeting, and signed by the person or persons convening the meeting.

In a parish having a separate parish council the chairman of the parish council, if present, shall preside at a parish meeting and if he is absent the vice-chairman (if any) shall, if present, preside.

In a parish which does not have a separate parish council the chairman chosen for the year in question under section 15(10) or 88(3) above, if present, shall preside.

If the chairman and the vice-chairman of the parish council or the chairman of the parish meeting, as the case may be, is absent from an assembly of the parish meeting, the parish meeting may appoint a person to take the chair, and that person shall have, for the purposes of that meeting, the powers and authority of the chairman.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, each local government elector may, at a parish meeting or at a poll consequent thereon, give one vote and no more on any question.

A question to be decided by a parish meeting shall, in the first instance, be decided by the majority of those present at the meeting and voting thereon, and the decision of the person presiding at the meeting as to the result of the voting shall be final unless a poll is demanded.

In the case of an equality of votes, the person presiding at the meeting shall have a casting vote, in addition to any other vote he may have.

F31A poll may be demanded before the conclusion of a parish meeting on any question arising at the meeting; but no poll shall be taken unless either the person presiding at the meeting consents or the poll is demanded by not less than ten, or one-third, of the local government electors present at the meeting, whichever is the less.

F31A poll consequent on a parish meeting shall be a poll of those entitled to attend the meeting as local government electors, and shall be taken by ballot in accordance with rules made by the Secretary of State, and the provisions of the rules with respect to the elections of parish councillors under F32section 36 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and of the enactments mentioned in section 187(1) of that Act shall, subject to any adaptations, alterations or exceptions made by the first-mentioned rules, apply in the case of a poll so taken as if it were a poll for the election of parish councillors.

F31Rules made under sub-paragraph (5) above shall be laid before each House of Parliament as soon as may be after they are made.

A poll may be demanded before the conclusion of a parish meeting on any question arising at the meeting, subject to regulations made under sub-paragraph (8).

Regulations under sub-paragraph (8)(c) may apply any electoral enactment (with or without modifications) to polls consequent on parish meetings.

In sub-paragraph (9) “electoral enactment” means an enactment which relates to elections or referendums.

A statutory instrument containing regulations under sub-paragraph (8) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Minutes of the proceedings of a parish meeting, or a committee thereof, shall be drawn up and entered in a book provided for the purpose and shall be signed at the same or the next following assembly of the parish meeting, or, as the case may be, meeting of the committee, by the person presiding at the meeting, and any minute purporting to be so signed shall be received in evidence without further proof.

Until the contrary is proved, a parish meeting, or a meeting of a committee thereof, in respect of the proceedings of which a minute has been made and signed as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) above shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held, and all the persons present at the meeting shall be deemed to have been duly qualified, and where the proceedings are those of a committee, the committee shall be deemed to have been duly constituted and to have had power to deal with the matters referred to in the minutes.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, in a parish having a separate parish council the parish council may make, vary and revoke standing orders for the regulation of proceedings and business at parish meetings for the parish.

In a parish which does not have a separate parish council, the parish meeting may, subject to the provisions of this Act, regulate their own proceedings and business.

Any ballot boxes, fittings and compartments provided for parliamentary elections out of moneys provided by Parliament may on request be lent to the returning officer at a poll consequent on a parish meeting on such terms and conditions as the Treasury may determined.

Any ballot boxes, fittings and compartments provided by or belonging to a local authority shall, on request and if not required for immediate use by that authority, be lent as aforesaid on such terms and conditions as may be agreed.

A community council shall in every year hold an annual meeting.

In a year which is a year of ordinary elections of community councillors, the annual meeting of a community council shall be held on, or within fourteen days after, the day on which the councillors elected at that election take office, and in any other year the annual meeting shall be held on such day in May as the community council may determine.

The annual meeting of a community council shall be held at such hour as the council may fix or, if no hour is so fixed, 6 o’clock in the evening.

A community council may in every year hold, in addition to the annual meeting, such other meetings as the council may determine to hold for the transaction of their business.

Any of those other meetings shall be held at such hour and on such day as the council may determine.

An extraordinary meeting of a community council may be called at any time by the chairman of the council.

If the chairman refuses to call an extraordinary meeting of the council after a requisition for that purpose, signed by two members of the council, has been presented to him, or if, without so refusing, the chairman does not call an extraordinary meeting within seven days after such a requisition has been presented to him, any two members of the council, on that refusal or on the expiration of those seven days, as the case may be, may forthwith convene an extraordinary meeting of the council.

Meetings of the community council shall be held at such place, either within or without their area, as they may direct, but shall not be held in F34premises which at the time of such a meeting may, by virtue of a premises licence or temporary event notice under the Licensing Act 2003, be used for the supply of alcohol (within the meaning of section 14 of that Act) unless no other suitable room is available either free of charge or at a reasonable cost.

Want of service of any such summons as is referred to in sub-paragraph (2)(b) above on any member of the community council concerned shall not affect the validity of the meeting.

This paragraph applies where a community council has been given a notice under sub-paragraph (4) or (5)(b) of paragraph 38B below.

The community council must ensure that the question of what action (if any) the council should take in response to the community poll, or the part of the community poll, to which the notice relates is included within the business to be transacted at a meeting of the community council held within the relevant period.

If it is necessary for the chairman of the community council to exercise his power under paragraph 25(1) above to call an extraordinary meeting of a community council in order for the community council to comply with sub-paragraph (2) above, the chairman must so exercise that power.

In sub-paragraph (2) “relevant period” means the period of six weeks beginning with the day following that on which the notice referred to in sub-paragraph (1) was given.

At a meeting of a community council the chairman of the council, if present, shall preside.

If the chairman of the council is absent from a meeting of the council, the vice-chairman of the council, if present, shall preside.

If both the chairman and the vice-chairman of the council are absent from a meeting of the council, such councillor as the members of the council present shall choose shall preside.

Unless otherwise provided by the council’s standing orders the manner of voting at meetings of a community council shall be by a show of hands.

On the requisition of any member of the council the voting on any question shall be recorded so as to show whether each member present and voting gave his vote for or against that question.

The council must take all reasonable steps to give notice to each of the individuals who convened the community meeting referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above of what action (if any) the council intends to take in response to the poll, or that part of the poll which was considered at the meeting.

Where an individual falling within sub-paragraph (2) above is an anonymous registrant in the register of local government electors, sub-paragraph (3)(a) above does not apply and the notice must instead be given in writing to the principal council within whose area the community in question lies.

The notice under sub-paragraph (4) above must include the entry in respect of the individual which was included in the relevant convening notice.

The relevant registration officer must supply the principal council with any information that it is necessary for the council to have in order to comply with the duty under sub-paragraph (6) above.

F40Where there is a community council for a community, a community meeting may be convened at any time by the chairman of the council or by any two councillors representing the community on the council.

Except in a case falling within sub-paragraph (3) below, public notice of F42a community meeting convened under sub-paragraph (1) above shall be given not less than 7 clear days before the meeting.

Where any business proposed to be transacted at F43a community meeting convened under sub-paragraph (1) above relates to F44the existence of the community council or the grouping of the community with other communities, public notice of the meeting shall be given not less than 30 clear days before the meeting.

For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3) above, business relates to the existence of the community council or the grouping of the community with other communities if it relates to any function of a community meeting under sections 27A to 27L of this Act.

This sub-paragraph applies to an individual in respect of whom an anonymous entry under section 9B of the Representation of the People Act 1983 has been made in a register of local government electors.

Where a notice is in electronic form, it is to be treated as given to a principal council F49or community council when the notice is given in accordance with whatever requirements the F50principal council has set as to the giving of such notices under paragraph 30C(2) below.

For the purposes of paragraph 30B(1), each community council and principal council must provide a facility for notices to be given in electronic form (“electronic notices”).

If the council is not of the opinion described in paragraph (2) above, the council must take all reasonable steps to give notice to the individuals to whom the notice relates as to why the council is not of that opinion.

The relevant registration officer must supply the council with any information in relation to an individual in respect of whom the notice under paragraph 30B includes an anonymous entry, by virtue of sub-paragraph (6)(a) of that paragraph, that it is necessary for the council to have in order to perform the council's functions under this paragraph.

In sub-paragraph (4) above, “relevant registration officer” means the registration officer under section 8 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 in relation to the register of local government electors maintained under section 9(1)(b) of that Act for the local government area (within the meaning of that Act) in which the community in question lies.

The public notice required by paragraph 30D(2) above must be given within a period of 30 days beginning with the day on which the council became of the opinion described in that paragraph.

Except in a case falling within sub-paragraph (3) below, the public notice must be given not less than seven clear days before the community meeting.

Where any business proposed to be transacted at the meeting relates to the existence of the community council or the grouping of the community with other communities, the public notice must be given not less than 30 clear days before the meeting.

In specifying a time and place for the purposes of sub-paragraph (4)(a) above, the council must take into account the proposed time and place contained in the notice given to the council under paragraph 30B(2)(d) above.

The business specified for the purposes of sub-paragraph (4)(b) above must be the same as that contained in the notice given to the council under paragraph 30B(2)(c) above.

For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3) above, business relates to the existence of the community council or the grouping of the community with other communities if it relates to any function of a community meeting under sections 27A to 27L of this Act.

The proceedings at a community meeting shall not commence earlier than 6 o’clock in the evening.

A community meeting shall not be held in F57premises which at the time of the meeting may, by virtue of a premises licence or temporary event notice under the Licensing Act 2003, be used for the supply of alcohol (within the meaning of section 14 of that Act) , except in cases where no other suitable room is available for such a meeting either free of charge or at a reasonable cost.

In a community for which there is a community council, the chairman of the council, if present, shall preside at a community meeting.

In any other case, a community meeting shall appoint a person to be chairman at that meeting.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, each local government elector may, at a community meeting or at a poll consequent thereon, give one vote and no more on any question.

A question to be decided by a community meeting shall, in the first instance, be decided by the majority of those present at the meeting and voting thereon, and the decision of the person presiding at the meeting as to the result of the voting shall be final unless a poll is demanded.

In the case of an equality of votes, the person presiding at the meeting shall have a casting vote, in addition to any other vote he may have.

A poll consequent on a community meeting shall be a poll of those entitled to attend the meeting as local government electors, and shall be taken by ballot in accordance with rules made by the Secretary of State, and the provisions of the rules with respect to elections of community councillors under section 42 above and of the enactments mentioned in section 165(1) of the M1Representation of the People Act 1949 shall, subject to any adaptations, alterations or exceptions made by the first-mentioned rules, apply in the case of a poll so taken as if it were a poll for the election of community councillors.

Rules made under sub-paragraph (5) above shall be laid before each House of Parliament as soon as may be after they are made.

Minutes of the proceedings of a community meeting shall be drawn up and entered in a book provided for the purpose by the proper officer of the community council where there is one or, where there is not, the proper officer of the council of the F59principal area in which the community is situated and shall be signed at the conclusion of the community meeting by the person presiding at the meeting, and any minute purporting to be so signed shall be received in evidence without further proof.

Until the contrary is proved, a community meeting in respect of the proceedings of which a minute has been made and signed as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) above shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held, and all the persons present at the meeting shall be deemed to have been duly qualified.

Any ballot boxes, fittings and compartments provided for parliamentary elections out of moneys provided by Parliament may on request be lent to the returning officer at a poll consequent on a community meeting on such terms and conditions as the Treasury may determine.

Any ballot boxes, fittings and compartments provided by or belonging to a local authority shall, on request and if not required for immediate use by that authority, be lent as aforesaid on such terms and conditions as may be agreed.

This paragraph applies to a poll (other than a poll to which sub-paragraph (2) below refers) consequent on a community meeting where a majority of those voting were in favour of the question in relation to which the poll was taken.

This paragraph does not apply to a poll taken on a question of a type specified in regulations made by the Welsh Ministers.

In sub-paragraph (3) above, “relevant principal council” means the principal council in whose area lies the community of the community meeting at which the poll was demanded.

The power of the Welsh Ministers to make regulations under sub-paragraph (2) above is exercisable by statutory instrument.

A statutory instrument which contains regulations under sub-paragraph (2) above is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.

Within a period of 14 days beginning with the day on which notice was given under paragraph 38A(3) above, the monitoring officer must determine whether, in the officer's opinion, the question in relation to which the poll was taken corresponds to any of the descriptions in sub-paragraph (2) below.

If the monitoring officer determines that the question in relation to which the poll was taken corresponds to the description in sub-paragraph (2)(a) above, the officer must give notice of that determination to the principal council (see section 33B of this Act for the duties of the council upon being given such notice).

If the monitoring officer determines that the question in relation to which the poll was taken corresponds to the description in sub-paragraph (2)(b) above, the officer must give notice of that determination to the community council (see paragraphs 26A and 29A above for the duties arising following the giving of such a notice).

Subject to the provisions of any enactment (including any enactment in this Act) all questions coming or arising before a local authority shall be decided by a majority of the members of the authority present and voting thereon at a meeting of the authority.

Subject to those provisions in the case of an equality of votes, the person presiding at the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

Minutes of the proceedings of a meeting of a local authority shall, subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, be drawn up and entered in a book kept for that purpose and shall be signed at the same or next F62suitable meeting of the authority by the person presiding thereat, and any minute purporting to be so signed shall be received in evidence without further proof.

Notwithstanding anything in any enactment or rule of law to the contrary, the minutes of the proceedings of meetings of a local authority may be recorded on loose leaves consecutively numbered, the minutes of the proceedings of any meeting being signed, and each leaf comprising those minutes being initialled, at the same or next F62suitable meeting of the authority, by the person presiding thereat, and any minute purporting to be so signed shall be received in evidence without further proof.

Until the contrary is proved, a meeting of a local authority a minute of whose proceedings has been made and signed in accordance with this paragraph shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held, and all the members present at the meeting shall be deemed to have been duly qualified.

For the purposes of sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) above the next suitable meeting of a local authority is their next following meeting or, where standing orders made by the authority in accordance with regulations under section 20 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 provide for another meeting of the authority to be regarded as suitable, either the next following meeting or that other meeting.

Paragraphs 39 to 43 above (except paragraph 41(3)) shall apply in relation to a committee of a local authority (including a joint committee) or a sub-committee of any such committee as they apply in relation to a local authority.

Until the contrary is proved, where a minute of any meeting of any such committee or sub-committee has been made and signed in accordance with paragraph 41 above as applied by this paragraph, the committee or sub-committee shall be deemed to have been duly constituted and to have had power to deal with the matters referred to in the minute, the meeting shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held and the members present at the meeting shall be deemed to have been duly qualified.