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Atworth Parish Council - Standing Orders

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STANDING ORDERS FOR ATWORTH PARISH COUNCIL

MEETINGS
1.   The Statutory Annual Meeting
 (a) in an election year shall be held on or within 14 days following the day on which the councillors elected take office
 (b) in a year which is not an election year shall be held on such day in May as the Council may direct.

2.   In addition to the Statutory Annual Meeting at least three other statutory meetings shall be held in each year on such dates and times and at such place as the Council may direct.

3.   The Council may create Sub-Committees to act on specific issues as determined by the full Council. Such sub-committees have power to make decisions on behalf of the Council  

CHAIRMAN OF MEETING
4.   The person presiding at a meeting may exercise all the powers and duties of the Chairman in relation to the conduct of the Meeting.  

QUORUM
5.   Three members or one-third of the total membership, whichever is the greater, shall constitute a quorum.  

VOTING
6.   If a member so requires, the Clerk shall record the names of the members who voted on any question so as to show whether they voted for or against it.  Such a request may be made before or after the vote but in any event before moving on to the next business.

7.   (1) Subject to (2) and (3) below the Chairman may give an original vote on any matter put to the vote, and in the case of an equality of votes may give a casting vote whether or not he gave an original vote.
      (2)   If the person presiding at the annual meeting would have ceased to be a member of the council but for the statutory provisions which preserve the membership of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman until the end of their term of office he may not give an original vote in an election for Chairman.
      (3)   The person presiding must give a casting vote whenever there is an equality of votes in an election for Chairman.  

ORDER OF BUSINESS
   (In an election year councillors should execute Declarations of Acceptance of Office in each others presence, or in the presence of a proper officer previously authorised by the Council to take such declaration, before the annual meeting commences.)
8.     At each Annual Meeting the first business shall be
   (a)       To elect a Chairman
   (b)       To receive the Chairman’s declaration of acceptance of office or, if not then received, to decide when it shall be received.
   (c)       In the ordinary year of election of the Council to fill any vacancies left unfilled at the election by reason of insufficient nominations.
   (d)       To decide when any declarations of acceptance of office and written undertakings to comply with the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council  which have not been received as provided by law shall be received.      

9.   At every meeting other than the Annual Meeting the first business shall be to appoint a Chairman if the Chairman and Vice-Chairman be absent and to receive such declarations of acceptance of office (if any) as are required by law to be made, or if not then received to decide when they shall be received.    

10.   (a)    After consideration to approve the signature of the Minutes by the person presiding as a correct record.  
        (b)   To deal with business expressly required by statute to be done.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT    
11.    All members must behave in a manner required by the Code of Conduct which was adopted by the Council on 18th July 2007. Paragraph 12(2) of said Code of Conduct being specifically adopted on 18th July 2007.  A copy of which is annexed to these Standing Orders.  

VOTING IN COMMITTEES
12.    Chairmen shall in the case of an equality of votes have a second or casting vote.

INTERESTS
13.   If a member has a personal interest as defined by the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council on 18 July 2007 then he/she shall declare such interest as soon as it becomes apparent, disclosing the nature and extent of that interest as required.

14.   If a member who has declared a personal interest then considers the interest to be prejudicial, he/she must withdraw from the meeting during consideration of the item to which the interest relates. The member may exercise the same rights as a member of the public.    

INSPECTION OF DOCUMENTS
15.      All Minutes kept by the Council and by any committee shall be open for the inspection of any member of the Council.
16.      The Council will, at least annually, review and consider the income and expenditure of the Council and will direct, as necessary, the Clerk in the prudent exercise of the Council’s business.

ADMISSION OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS TO MEETINGS
17.   The public shall be admitted to all meetings of the Council and its committees and sub-committees, which may, however, temporarily exclude the public by means of the following resolution:  
“That in view of the [special] [confidential] nature of the business about to be transacted, it is advisable in the public interest that the public be temporarily excluded and they are instructed to withdraw”.
(Notes:  The special reasons should be stated.  If a person’s advice or assistance is needed they may be invited (by name) to remain after the exclusion resolution is passed).
18.   Members of the public attending a meeting of the Council will be provided the opportunity to raise specific issues of interest; provided they relate to the business and authority of the Council.
19.   The Clerk shall afford to the press reasonable facilities for taking their report of any proceedings at which they are entitled to be present.

CODE OF CONDUCT ON COMPLAINTS
20.   The Council shall deal with complaints of maladministration allegedly committed by the Council or by any officer or member in such manner as adopted by the Council except for those complaints which should be properly directed to the Standards Board for consideration.

STANDING ORDERS TO BE GIVEN TO MEMBERS
21.   A copy of these Standing Orders shall be given to each member by the Clerk upon delivery to him of the member’s declaration of acceptance of office and written undertaking to comply with the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council.  

[(c) Atworth Parish Council]


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