Requirement to publish meeting summons and agendas on a website

Question

Hi

At paragraph 20 of NALC’s LTN-5 (2018) note, it states that a parish council, with a turnover of less than £25K, MUST publish meeting summons and agendas on its website or on the website of its principal authority.

I take the MUST aspect of this requirement as being a mandatory requirement.

Consequently, I would be grateful if anyone could point me to the relevant legislation (if any) or provide any further advice in this regard.

Thank you

Sam

Answer 1

It is my understanding that it is a code of recommended practice and not compulsory

Comments

Hi OPENSPACES

Thank you for your response.

Kind regards

Sam

Answer 2

I think this is quoting the Local Transparency code which stipulates information to be published on a publicly accessible (free of charge) website. It includes Minutes, agendas and meeting papers of formal meetings (minutes within a month of the meeting and agendas no later than 3 days prior to the meeting date)  BUT not the summons to Cllrs.  

Ask NALC for the source of their guidance - the summons part might be their opinion.

Comments

Hi Graeme_r

Many thanks again for your advice.

Kind regards

Sam

Answer 3

The underlying requirement (except summons) for publication on the website of agenda and minutes is Section 2, subsection 1A of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.

It was introduced in 2014 by the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.

In the case of Parishes, it is the Local Transparency Code.

Section 3 of the LGPL1980 is the element that makes anything in the code that says "must" become statutory.

Comments

Hi somebodyelse

Many thanks for your explicit reply.

Kind regards

Sam