How do electors get a referendum called to disband the Parish Council?

Question

Without going into huge detail, our Parish Council is a disgrace.  The behaviour of some (not all) of the Councillors is quite frankly one of purposeful bullying.  Arguments ensue at every meeting.  Some meetings the vitriol is quite disturbing.  Meetings have been suspended.  Meetings have been abandoned.  Councillors have been forced to attend 'behaviour training'.  All to no avail.  There are several Parish 'projects' that have not moved forward or progressed, purely because a small number of the Councillors undermine the efforts of those trying to get things done.  There is a strong feeling within the Parish that the time has come for something to be done.  The Parish Council needs to be rid of the disrupters.  What is the correct procedure to achieve this?

Answer 1

The only effective mechanism is the Ballot Box... particularly if you want to rid it of specific troublesome individuals (but retain a parish council). At the next scheduled elections you need to covert that strong feeling of discontent into candidates.

Comments

You can conduct costly Parish Polls (that are none binding) but I question the point given you cannot compel them to actually resign. Far better mobilise early and start getting a coherent team of prospective candidates together and a solid campaigning foundation. Get active in community (if your not already) build the momentum and ake the case early ready for next scheduled election.

Answer 2

First thing you can do is to call a parish meeting. Get six registered voters form the parish to inform the chair that he has to call a parish meeting. This is a meeting of the registered voters in the parish which has to be called, financed, organised and advertised by the Parish Council- they have no choice. Encourage people from the parish to attend and then present a list of concerns of the electorate of the PC and propose and hold a vote of "no confidence " in the PC. It may have no power to make the PC do anything but will lay a foundation of "discontent" and inform others of the problems being faced. It is a starting point.

Comments

Whilst I understand Mentorman when (s)he says a parish poll is "financed by the parish council ...", but you should not forget who ultimately provides the money.

Answer 3

If you want the Parish Council to be abolished for good, none of the answers thus far posted are correct.  In short, 7.5% or more of the Parish Council Electorate need to petition the Principal Authority to conduct a governance review to determine if the electors want the Parish Council to Continue or be abolished, advised by a referendum (to be organised by the Principal Authority.  Here is an example of the process that led to the abolition of Letchworth Town Council   https://democracy.north-herts.gov.uk/CeListDocuments.aspx?CommitteeId=136&MeetingId=480&DF=22%2f11%2f2012&Ver=2