Every English parish must have a parish meeting (Local Government Act 1972 s 9(1). The parish meeting must assemble annually between 1st March and 1st June (both inclusive). A parish meeting consists of local government electors registered for the area for which it is held, and where there is a parish council, the chairman may attend (whether an elector or not) and if they are present, they must preside. The vice-chairman (if any) must preside in the chairman's absence. If both are absent, the meeting elects someone to preside.
A parish meeting may be convened by the chairman of the parish council or any two parish councillors, or by six electors for the area for which it is to be held.
Notices specifying the time and place and business of an intended meeting and signed by the convener/s must be affixed in some conspicuous place or places in the parish and any such additional publicity as seems desirable. The minimum notice is 7 clear days. The quorum for the meeting is 2.
The parish meeting gives the community the opportunity to engage with Parish, District and County Councillors and discuss local issues. Historically the Four Marks parish meeting has been held in April. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and participate.
Reports are received from the Chairman, District and County Councillors, and the Responsible Financial Officer highlighting the past years events, and the Chairman generally arranges a speaker on a topical subject to encourage community involvement.
The Minutes of the meeting are approved in principle at a subsequent Parish Council meeting, but are not formally approved until the next parish meeting.