Gifts from a parish meeting to the poor in a village?

Question

If the electors pass a resolution at a village parish meeting unanimously, can they resolve to give agreed donations to the poor in the village,after agreeing a true acceptable definition of the poor?

note... This is a small parish therefore a meeting and not a parish council

rob.

Answer 1

I could be wrong, and am reluctant to be negative over this, but I cannot see a power that would allow a parish meeting to make donations to the poor.  It seems to me that a parish council could do so under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 - the legislation that allows a parish council to spend (up to a certain limit) on anything that provides a clear benefit within the parish.  But a parish meeting is not permitted to use this legislation.