Can the public be excluded from agenda items please?

Question

The public were excluded when a  grant request  was to be discussed at a local parish council meeting..

Answer 1

Yes the public can be excluded from certain items provided that a resolution has been passed to that effect. (the chair cannot direct). It is usually only done if the item is of a confidential nature (clerk's terms of employmant for example). A grant request hardly qualifies as confidential or sensitive I would have thought but without full details it would be unwise to make a definitive reply.