NOTICE OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING 2026
Parish councils in England are legally required to facilitate a Parish Meeting (specifically the Annual Parish Meeting) between March 1st and June 1st each year.
What is the Annual Parish Meeting?
The Annual Parish Meeting can often be confused with the Annual Parish Council Meeting.
In legal terms, these meetings are quite separate, and it is a meeting of the electors of the Parish and not the Council, though it is often the Council that hosts the meeting.
The Annual Parish Meeting is a legacy from the Middle Ages when the whole community made all local decisions. The meetings were held in the Church vestry.
Nowadays the purpose of the meeting is to give the Parish Council, and other local organisations a chance to let residents know what they have been doing over the last year but more importantly it is an opportunity for electors to have a say on anything they consider valuable about the Parish.
Most Parish Councils offer token food and drink. Members have provided refreshments in the past but have been left with the food which had to be distributed to charity.
In order for the members to decide on supplying refreshments, please email the Clerk (Clerk@StMaryHoo-pc.gov.uk) or Cllr Craddy (Nick.Craddy@StMaryHoo-pc.gov.uk) with confirmation that you will be attending.
As always, the members thank you for your continuing support.
St Mary Hoo Parish Council