FAQs

To make meetings easier to manage. Some requirements for conducting meetings reflect statutory requirements, but standing orders enable clear processes to be applied.

The minimum is four meetings in a year, one of which is the annual meeting of the parish council. There is no maximum.

The annual meeting should be held in May. In an election year, the annual meeting should be held within 14 days of the elected councillors taking office (i.e. on the fourth day after the election or within 14 days after that day).

Anytime. If no time is fixed for the annual meeting, it must start at 6pm. Mickleton Parish Council meetings usually begin at 7.30pm.

Anywhere that is available free of charge or subject to a reasonable cost. If the parish council does not own premises, it may require free use of a room maintained by the local education authority or any other room maintained out of a ‘rate’. Licensed premises may be used if no suitable room is available free of charge or at reasonable cost. Our meetings are held at King George’s Hall.

Subject to any standing orders which dictate the quorum, there must be no fewer than three councillors present. MPC must have four councillors present for a meeting to take place.

No, unless any councillor asks that the votes cast on a particular item are recorded.

No, a meeting may be adjourned (a good example of an aspect that can be dealt with in standing orders) and the business can be completed on another specified occasion prior to the next scheduled regular meeting.

Yes, if there is confidential business or if there is some other good reason. The exclusion has to be voted for by a majority of councillors present and the reason has to be stated in the motion to exclude and then recorded in the minutes of the meeting. The most likely cases are when employment, contracting or legal matters are to be discussed.

Yes, but only if the parish council has resolved to permit public participation at that particular meeting and in accordance with their standing orders. If you wish to speak, it must be relevant to an item included on the agenda and in public time. If you wish to raise anything which is not on the agenda, you are advised to contact the parish clerk. Councillors cannot make decisions on anything which is not included on the agenda.

See the council’s complaints procedure here

Firstly, speak informally to the clerk or chairman to see if there is an easy way to resolve the matter. If this fails, you will need to write formally to the clerk of the council asking for a copy of the council’s complaints procedure. You should return this to the council, who should consider your complaint at its next meeting.

Hopefully, this will lead to a resolution. If it does not, then the next steps will depend on the nature of the complaint. If you believe there has been some other kind of financial or other impropriety you should initially discuss it with the County Council’s Monitoring Officer who will advise.

Please note that the Local Government Ombudsman (who investigates maladministration) does not have any jurisdiction with respect to town and parish councils.

Parish councils are consulted by the relevant planning authority (Gloucestershire County Council) on all planning applications. Any views expressed by the parish council will be taken into account by the planning authority before a decision is made, providing the points made are relevant to the determination of a planning application. The final decision is made by the planning authority, not the parish council.

It is a matter for each individual parish council to appoint their clerk.

This website lists the current parish councillors, complete with their bios. A list is posted on the parish noticeboard. You may also email and request details from the parish clerk.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 you may see and have a copy of the ‘recorded’ information held by the council (unless it is classed as exempt information in the Act). This includes reports, minutes, correspondence and emails. 

Minutes of parish council meetings are posted on this website here

Yes. All councillors have to abide by a Code of Conduct which sets out which interests have to be declared. They also have to enter relevant financial and other interests in a special register that is open to inspection by members of the public.

You can report fly-tipping on public land Cotswold District Council. To report a fly-tip see: https://community.cotswold.gov.uk/s/fly-tip

When reporting a fly-tip the following information will help:

• The exact location 
• The type of waste and approximately how much there is
• If you have any information about who has dumped the rubbish, such as name of person, address or vehicle involved
• Photographs of the fly-tip are very useful, but don’t take risks or trespass in order to get these
• Your details in case we need further information

However, Cotswold District Council will not respond to fly tipping reports on private land.

An email containing the access code information will be sent approximately 30 minutes before you are due to play. If you have any problems, please call 07467 700754.