Frequently Asked Questions | Waddesdon Parish Council

Three at least, up to a Council with nine members. Thereafter, at least one third of the total membership.

Can the public be excluded from a Parish Council 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 in the minutes of the meeting.

Can I speak at the parish council meetings?

You cannot speak while the normal business of the meeting is being conducted. However, it is good practice for all councils to include a public participation section on their agenda. This allows some time at the meeting for members of the public to address the council on an issue that concerns them.

This is usually built into a councils Standing Orders.

Normally if you wish to speak it must be relevant to an item included on the agenda. If you wish to raise anything which is not on the agenda you are advised to contact the council’s clerk in writing, asking for this to be included on the councils next agenda. Councillors cannot make decisions on anything which is not included on the agenda. The clerk can provide you with further details as to how this works in your council.

How do people get elected to the council?

Elections are held every four years. The next scheduled elections in Buckinghamshire are May 2025 when Parish elections will be held. When elections are held you need to be nominated to stand for election and follow the election processes in operation at the time.

Sometimes the number of people who put their names forward for election equals or is less than the number of seats on the council. In these circumstances there is not a poll on election day and the people nominated are deemed elected. If the number deemed elected is less than the number of seats on the council, then the council is required to co-opt people onto the council to fill the vacancies.

If a seat on the council becomes vacant between normal elections, then a special procedure has to be followed which can lead to an election or, more usually, the co-option of a new councillor. It is good practice for a council to advertise widely in the parish when a vacancy occurs to see if there is a demand for an election and if no election is called by electors also to advertise when it seeks to co-op a member onto their council.

Who can vote in Parish Council elections?

A person is entitled to be registered as a local government elector if:-

They are resident in the local government area (but see below)
They are not subject to any legal incapacity to vote.
They are a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a citizen of a member state of the European Union.
They will attain voting age before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the 1st of December next following the relevant date.
Second homeowners (providing it is not a business) can register to vote at both their main home and second home. They can vote at only one of these in General Elections but are able to vote at both in local elections. However, an elector may not cast more than one ballot paper
in the same ward, or cast a ballot paper in more than one ward of the same local authority.
An elector who satisfies the residence and other registration conditions can, however, vote at elections to two different local authorities as these are two distinctly separate bodies of elected representatives.

Can I attend meetings of the council?

Yes. Every council and any subcommittee meetings are open to the public. However, a council can resolve to exclude the public and press from all or part of their meeting on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted or for other special reasons stated in the resolution and arising from the nature of the business of the proceedings (Public Bodies (Admission to meetings) Act 1960 s1).

These are usually the exception.

To give electors the opportunity to attend meetings, notices of meetings should be advertised throughout the parish usually with three clear days’ notice. Some councils also use websites and the local press to inform you of meetings.

Who has the final say on a planning application, the parish council, or Buckinghamshire Unitary Council?

The parish council is not a decision maker in planning matters and can only make representations to the planning authority.

How do I find out who the councillors are?

They can be found on this website under Parish Council. There is also often a list on the parish noticeboard.

What powers do Parish Councils have with respect to planning applications?

Parish Councils are consulted by the relevant Planning Authority 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.

For general queries or more information on any of the topics above please fill out the form opposite.

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