HC Deb 19 March 1895 vol 31 cc1372-3
MAJOR DARWIN (Staffordshire, Lichfield)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether it is necessary, in order to fulfil the provisions of the Local Government Act of 1894, that the annual parish meeting shall be held within seven days before or after 25th March next in every parish, even if no business has to be transacted; and, in the case of a parish divided into wards, if such a meeting is necessary; and, if at any time a parish meeting is called for any purpose other than the election of councillors, whether the chairman of the Parish Council has the option, of summoning either one parish meeting for the whole parish or separate parish meetings for each ward?

MR. SHAW-LEFEVRE

The Act requires that there shall be an annual assembly of the parish meeting in every rural parish on the 25th March, or within seven days before or after that day, and no exception is made as regards the present year. The meeting must be held for the whole parish, even if it is divided into wards. Separate parish meetings in wards are only held for the election of Parish Councillors.

MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

In the event of there being no business, and no meeting being held, is anyone liable to a penalty?

MR. SHAW-LEFEVRE

The Act requires that there should be a meeting.

MR. T. G. BOWLES

But does it impose a penalty?

MR. SHAW-LEFEVRE

was understood to reply in the negative.