HC Deb 17 July 1894 vol 27 cc172-3
MR. HENEAGE (Great Grimsby)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board when the necessary parish meetings to enable the parishioners to pass resolutions in favour of Parish Councils can be held in those parishes where the population is under 300 and over 100 persons according to the last census, and by whom such meeting can be legally summoned under the provisions of the Local Government Act of 1894?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. SHAWLEFEVRE,) Bradford, Central

The resolution in favour of a Parish Council in the case of a rural parish with a population between 100 and 300 is to be passed by the parish meeting of the parish. The first parish meeting in a parish will be convened by the Overseers, in accordance with Section 78 of the Act, at the time fixed for the election of Parish Councillors in the case of parishes in which under the Act a Parish Council is required to be constituted.

MR. HENEAGE

Will the right hon. Gentleman direct a circular to be issued with regard to this question? There is a strong feeling prevalent in the rural districts that a meeting can be called at any time they like in the summer.

MR. SHAW-LEFEVRE

I will consider that.

MR. HENEAGE

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has been advised that, under the provisions of the Local Government Act of 1894, no Chairman or member of a Parish Council who is not resident within the parish, although a duly elected member of the Parish Council under Section 3 of the Act, can attend a parish meeting called in accordance with the provisions of the Act to discuss and confirm any resolution of the Parish Council?

MR. SHAW-LEFEVRE

I am advised that although the Chairman or a member of the Parish Council who is not a parochial elector is not entitled to attend a parish meeting as a parochial elector, there is nothing in the Act which would prevent his attending at the meeting for the purpose of giving information or explanation as to the action of the parish meeting when this is desired.

MR. HENEAGE

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether it is contemplated by the Local Government Board, in their circular of the 24th of March, 1894, that under Section 60 of "The Local Government Act, 1894," taken in connection with the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1868, parishes under 300 population may be deprived of their own parish Guardian and District Councillor, and may be grouped together, without their consent and against their wish, with adjoining parishes, notwithstanding Sub-section (2) of Section 24 of "The Local Government Act, 1894," and the declaration in Subsection (1) of the first section?

MR. SHAW-LEFEVRE

The two processes of uniting parishes for the purpose of the election of Guardians and District Councillors and for the purpose of a Parish Council are entirely distinct. In the one case the County Council can provide for the union of two parishes without the consent of either. This is merely in extension of the power previously conferred on the Local Government Board. In the other case the consent of both parishes is necessary.

MR. HENEAGE

Is it seriously intended in the case of a parish fortunate enough to have a Parish Council of its own to deprive it of having an independent District Councillor?

MR. SHAW-LEFEVRE

Yes, that is so. Under the law as it stood the Local Government Board could unite the parishes, and the only change made last Session was to confer a like power on the County Council.