Taunton, Somerset, England - Borough Ward of
Neroche.
Parishes of Orchard Portman with Thurlbear,
Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall and Curland.
NEROCHE PARISH COUNCIL
| Meetings are held at the Committee Room of Neroche Parish Hall at 7.45pm.
Members of the public are welcome to attend and there is a 15 minutes public session prior
to each meeting, chaired by the Council Chairman, for members of the public to raise matters
of concern. However, matters raised in this manner can only be reported by the Chairman to
the full Council and added to the Agenda for the following meeting. No action or decisions
can be made by the Council unless the matter is properly included on a meeting Agenda.
Alternatively, any one with a matter to raise can approach the Parish Clerk or any Councillor
and the Parish Clerk can add the matter to the Agenda for the next meeting so that the Council
can discuss it and take whatever action they decide is appropriate. Should any Parishioner wish
to know who their Council representatives are the Parish Clerk would be pleased to pass on that
information on an individual basis.
Neroche Parish Council is a very small Council which represents the civil Parishes of
Bickenhall, Curland, Staple Fitzpaine and Orchard Portman with Thurlbear, which totals about
440 electors. There are three Councillors for each Parish who are generally elected to the
position every four years. In the event that a vacancy should arise between election years then
the vacancy is filled either by an election process, if enough prospective candidates come
forward, or, as is generally the case with our small council, by co-option. Co-option means
that candidates (who must be sponsored by a current member of the Council) attend a Meeting
of the Council at which the current members will vote for the candidate of their choice and by
a process of elimination voting if necessary, will elect a candidate by a clear majority to
become a member. Any candidate for membership of the Council must meet the same criteria for
qualification as any other candidate for political office. Any new member, whether elected or
co-opted then has to sign a "Declaration of Acceptance of Office" form and from thenceforth
is a Councillor. |