Question

Can a parish council limit the time the public can speak at a meeting to 3 minutes

Answer 1

Yes Many stipulate format (and time allocated) within standing orders / public participation policy.  Personally ours opts not to (though in fairness before remote meetings cant actually remember when the last member of the public who asked a question (or indeed turned up) it had been that long

Comments

I’ve seen a Council use an egg timer to ensure exactly three minutes which I personally felt was intimidation so it’s little wonder the public rarely turn up
But conversely when it suits they allow them to talk during a debate

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Yep sadly seen it all elsewhere. I have seen folk sat playing with phone, nattering, making themselves a drink, rummaging around bag looking and some flat out turning heads looking deliberately opposite way.  Chairmans banging gavels in a demented fashion as there stop watch beeps. Its why am so keen to favourable judgement and remote provision extended beyond May.  Lets turn the spot-light firmly on the good and the frighteningly bad within sector.  Lets not let folk go and hide back inside village halls with the curtains closed

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Not necessary and implemented on NALC advice in their drive to control PC's and save their NALC trained clerks from actually doing their jobs.
You don't need a time limit just a good professional and competent Chair. As stated leads to confrontation

Answer 2

It’s as well to limit both the total amount of time allocated for public representation AND the time available each individual can speak.
Without a specified time window, people may waffle on for ages to the detriment of other business.
Perfectly reasonable to limit not only public speaking time but ALSO councillor speaking time - focuses the mind and prevents overly verbose presentations