Standing Orders

CONSTITUTION OF  EAST HARDWICK PARISH COUNCIL

• The Name of the Group shall be “East Hardwick Parish Council” hereafter known as “the Group”.
• The Parish Council exercises its duties in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972 which establishes it as a statutory body comprising five elected councillors.
• It works in partnership with Wakefield Metropolitan District Council.

2.0   AIMS & OBJECTIVES

2.1 The aim of the group shall be:

• To work within its statutory powers to maintain and enhance the public amenities within the village and to help the people of the village improve their quality of life.
• To benefit the local community through ensuring transparent, accountable and local decision making.
• To utilise its budget for the greatest good of the local community.

 2.2 The group shall seek to achieve these aims by:

• Meetings held in public every 2 months.
• Operating a website and notice board so that decisions are transparent.
• Ensuring the group conducts its financial affairs openly and records all transactions in a proper and accountable manner

3.0 COMMITTEE

3.1 The day-to-day workings of the Group will be administered, at the consent of the Group, by the:

• Chair
• Clerk
• Treasurer
• Deputy Chair

4.0   MEMBERSHIP

4.1     Applications for membership of the group can be made by:

4.2    Any person that supports the aims and objectives of the group;

 4.3    Members are elected by a vote of the local Parish every 4 years in May.

 4.4    Membership details will be held by the Clerk.

4.5    Any member shall cease to be a member if they:

• Resign in writing to the Chair;
• Cease to meet any of the qualifications for membership (see 4.1);
• Fail to attend a group meeting in a twelve-month period;
• Is removed from membership by a majority vote of the Members in a General meeting for conduct prejudicial to the group, provided that any member so be removed shall have the right to make representation to the meeting where the decision is to be made.
• Any member who ceases to be a member is entitled to stand for membership should they so wish.

5.0   POWERS & PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS

• No business shall be transacted at a meeting unless a quorum is present.
• A quorum where relevant shall consist of three members of the Council, whichever is the greater.
• Any voting shall be by simple majority.
• At any meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands a secret ballot is demanded by the Chair or at least two councillors. The secret ballot shall be dealt with in such a manner as the Chair shall direct.
• Each Management Committee member present in person shall have one vote. In the case of an equality of votes the status quo shall be maintained.
• The Chair shall be entitled to preside upon meetings. In the Chair’s absence, the Deputy will preside.
• The Council shall be entitled to appoint sub-groups to deal with matters which the committee determines. The terms of reference of any sub-group shall be a matter for the group.
• The Clerk shall be responsible for producing minutes of each meeting. Once minutes have been signed by the Chair and proposed and seconded as accurate at a meeting, they shall be deemed to constitute an accurate record of the proceedings of the meeting.

 6       POWERS & PROCEEDINGS AT ANNUAL PARISH MEETINGS

• The Group shall in each year hold an Annual Parish Meeting in May.
• Notice of the Annual Parish Meeting of the Group shall be given by the Clerk seven days before the meeting is held.
• The business of the Annual Parish Meeting shall include:
• The election of a chair and officers
• Consideration of the annual accounts of the Group
• The appointment of an auditor
• No business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present.
• A quorum where relevant shall consist of three group members.
• Any voting by the Group shall be by simple majority, except where otherwise specified in this constitution.

At any meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands a secret ballot is demanded by the Chair or at least two members present in person. The secret ballot shall be dealt with in such a manner as the Chair shall direct.

• Each member present in person shall have one vote. In the case of an equality of votes the status quo shall be maintained.
• This constitution may be amended by a resolution of not less than 50%of the members of the Group present and voting at an annual parish meeting. The notice of the meeting shall specify the alteration to be proposed.

7         FINANCE

• At any time, and if approved and considered necessary, an account shall be opened at a bank or building society in the name of the Group.
• The group shall have the power to invest funds not immediately required for its objects
• Any accounts and transactions shall be kept up to date by the treasurer
• The Treasurer shall report to the group on the group’s finances, either in person or in writing, at every meeting
• Any withdrawals from this account shall be made only as approved by the Group and on the signature of any two from three designated Signatories.
• The income and property of the Group shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objectives of the group, as set forth in this set of rules, and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or other distribution by way of profit to other members of the group.

8 EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

8.1   The group will aim to treat everyone the same regardless of their sex, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, religion, creed, nationality, ethnic origin, colour or disability.

The above constitution was approved and adopted by the group on: 25___ / _3__ / _2026__

Signed: Cllr A Hames                                      Signed: Cllr A Lagden

Position: Chair                                                 Position: Deputy Chair

Dated:                                                                 Dated: