Question

Can we appoint a one off chair at a one-off parish meeting if we don't have a parish council?

Answer 1

Do you have a recognised Parish Meeting, as the alternative to a Parish Council? If so, if there is no chair or the chair is absent, those present may elect anybody as chair for the meeting.

Comments

We do not have a recognised parish meeting. We are 220 residents. Used to have one years ago but volunteers moved on. This is about holding one mtg to vote on one issue.

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In which case, the answer may be that you fall outside the legislative framework. A parish meeting must meet at least twice a year, with one of those meetings falling between 1 March and 1 June and must comply with many other legislative requirements relating to records, finances etc.

Your meeting may simply be a gathering of local residents to discuss a local issue. You may wish to consider setting up some sort of formal body to amplify your voices, which could be a parish meeting or a residents association or perhaps speak to neighbouring parish councils.

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Thanks v much. We are currently a none entity then but can formalise if we  meet x 2 a year as a parish mtg in line with other requirements.

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If a PC is in place then they must organise, advertise, pay for and hold ( with the PC chair as chair and clerk as minute taker ) one required such meeting per year ( dates between as stated) The electorate can if they so wish call a Parish meeting at any time ( and as often as they wish) to discuss whatever topics they see fit with or without a PC in the Parish. If there is no PC then the organisation and cost of such a meeting must be met by the organisers or community. A Parish meeting holds no legal force rights other than to display the will of the people.
As I read it the annual parish meeting was incumbent on a PC to hold was designed to give freedom of expression by the electorate and an unhindered conduit to inform their PC of matters they were not happy with or required rectifying or resolving.

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Yes, we have no parish council nor have had a parish meeting for many years. No chair, no clerk, etc. So it is starting from scratch.

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Sympathy where due but organising community matters of potential interest or concern has always been like herding cats ask any Parish Council ( which is why they come into being is it not?)