Dunchideock Parish Council
Annual Meetings Never Took Place
Every year, an Annual Meeting of the Parish should take place along with the Annual Meeting of Dunchideock Parish Council. The DPC approved minutes for August 2023 confirms these are to be held on 8 May 2024.
At this meeting, reports from the Chairman, district councillors and any recipients of grants or help from the parish council should have been reported back to the residents regarding what has happened. This is under LGA 1972 and needs 7 clear days of notice for the meeting. But it never took place.
Local Government Act 1972
The PC Annual Meeting must appoint a Chairman and other officers for the year and also deal with statutory key items. We no longer have a Parish Clerk nor a Chairman. The Vice-Chairman, as Acting Chairman, did not make necessary arrangements and so no meetings have taken place.
The parish and council is somewhat in disarray of the legal compliance. What happens next?
Every year, an Annual Meeting of the Parish should take place along with the Annual Meeting of Dunchideock Parish Council. The DPC approved minutes for August 2023 confirms these are to be held on 8 May 2024.
At this meeting, reports from the Chairman, district councillors and any recipients of grants or help from the parish council should have been reported back to the residents regarding what has happened. This is under LGA 1972 and needs 7 clear days of notice for the meeting. But it never took place.
Local Government Act 1972
The PC Annual Meeting must appoint a Chairman and other officers for the year and also deal with statutory key items. We no longer have a Parish Clerk nor a Chairman. The Vice-Chairman, as Acting Chairman, did not make necessary arrangements and so no meetings have taken place.
The parish and council is somewhat in disarray of the legal compliance. What happens next?
Parish Council Resignations
Therefore Edward Ellis is now the Acting Chairman and running the parish council pending a Clerk being appointed, not that there is even an advertisement posted as yet to recruiting a Clerk.
Previous Parish Clerk - Claim against the Parish Council
The details of the claim he made have not been made public but in response to a claim the previous clerk made to the Small Claims Court, the PC has now resolved that the proposed settlement agreement of £1,905.66 is to be made to him. Let's hope this immensely costly and, in my opinion, suspect situation can be resolved and not ruin PC finances.
- Parish Clerk Andrew McKenzie resigned 25 April
- Gavin Samwell (Chairman) resigned 28 February 2024. Nigel Gooding resigned 27 February 2024. Both with immediate effect! Something is up?
Therefore Edward Ellis is now the Acting Chairman and running the parish council pending a Clerk being appointed, not that there is even an advertisement posted as yet to recruiting a Clerk.
Previous Parish Clerk - Claim against the Parish Council
The details of the claim he made have not been made public but in response to a claim the previous clerk made to the Small Claims Court, the PC has now resolved that the proposed settlement agreement of £1,905.66 is to be made to him. Let's hope this immensely costly and, in my opinion, suspect situation can be resolved and not ruin PC finances.
The Parish Council chairman (now resigned) set up his parish council web site for information such as:
- Councillors & MP
- Parish Clerk
- Agendas & Minutes
- Accounts
- Audit
- Policies
What Does the Parish Council Do?
Our small parish has few maintenance responsibilities but the Parish Council exists to maintain democratic representation on behalf of our parishioners. But the new council, so far? They now have 21 policy documents but not yet done or discussed anything for the residents. Hence the petition to abandon the Parish Council.
When & Where does the Parish Council Meet?
See the web site for when they meet. They normally meet in our Village Hall at this location. The hall was, however, closed until further notice but it seems some events have re-started there late June.
Planning Charter for Town & Parish Councils
There is a Planning Charter adopted by Teignbridge District Council that guides the relationship between TDC and our parish. Planning, often a troublesome topic, so this guide is a useful read.
Teignbridge Association of Local Councils (TALC)
Dunchideock PC, being one of the 50 town and parish councils (including parish meetings) in Teignbridge district, is automatically a member of TALC. Details on the Dunchideock Parish Council new web page, in due course ........
Our small parish has few maintenance responsibilities but the Parish Council exists to maintain democratic representation on behalf of our parishioners. But the new council, so far? They now have 21 policy documents but not yet done or discussed anything for the residents. Hence the petition to abandon the Parish Council.
When & Where does the Parish Council Meet?
See the web site for when they meet. They normally meet in our Village Hall at this location. The hall was, however, closed until further notice but it seems some events have re-started there late June.
Planning Charter for Town & Parish Councils
There is a Planning Charter adopted by Teignbridge District Council that guides the relationship between TDC and our parish. Planning, often a troublesome topic, so this guide is a useful read.
Teignbridge Association of Local Councils (TALC)
Dunchideock PC, being one of the 50 town and parish councils (including parish meetings) in Teignbridge district, is automatically a member of TALC. Details on the Dunchideock Parish Council new web page, in due course ........