Is it OK for chairman to change, between meetings, previously passed motion?

Question

Motion was passed in council to poll villagers. Wording of motion was very specific and concise. Chairman, Vice chairman and clerk together subsequently radically changed the wording to a degree where it bore no resemblance to the motion. The changed wording was used on the ballot paper. Is this  legal/permissible? Poll was referred to as "referendum" in the publicity, but was not conducted as a referendum under Local Government Act 1972, just an amateur/informal  affair.

Answer 1

Assuming the chairman, vice chairman and clerk did not have specific delegated authority from the council to make changes to the poll, then they would have no right to do so.

Their action in carrying out a poll would not have the backing of the council and so any costs could not be laid at the council's door.

A formal poll is normally quite expensive, requiring the involvement of the local electoral authority, usually the district council.

Enforcement in any of these matters can be difficult, and will become more so when the Standards Board is disbanded.