Members of the public are warmly invited to attend meetings of Morville Parish Council. You do not need to give notice or explain why you wish to attend—simply come along.
Attending a meeting is a good way to learn more about the Council’s work, hear discussions about matters affecting the parish, and raise issues of local concern.
When and where we meet
Ordinary meetings of Morville Parish Council are usually held on the second Monday of each month at 7.00pm.
Venue:
Morville Village Hall
Morville
Bridgnorth
Shropshire
WV16 5NB
Occasionally, a meeting may be held on a different date or at another venue. Additional meetings may also be arranged when urgent business needs to be considered.
Please check the published agenda or the forthcoming meetings page before attending, as this will confirm the date, time and venue.
Before the meeting
The agenda is published at least three clear days before an ordinary Parish Council meeting. It lists the matters the Council will consider and is accompanied, where appropriate, by supporting information.
The Council can only make formal decisions on matters included on the published agenda. If you would like a particular subject to be considered, please contact the Clerk in advance. Depending on the nature and timing of the request, it may need to be placed on the agenda for a future meeting.
You may find it helpful to read the agenda before attending.
Speaking at a meeting
A public participation period is normally provided near the beginning of each meeting. This gives residents an opportunity to ask a question, raise a matter affecting the parish, comment on an item on the agenda, or share information that may be useful to the Council.
If you would like to speak, please make this known to the Chair or Clerk before the meeting begins. You do not normally need to submit your question in advance, although contacting the Clerk beforehand can be helpful if the matter is detailed or may require research.
The Chair manages public participation to ensure that everyone has a fair opportunity to speak and that the Council has sufficient time to complete its business. Speakers may, therefore, be asked to keep their comments brief and relevant.
Councillors may be able to answer a question at the meeting. In some cases, however, the Council may need to obtain further information or refer the matter to another organisation before responding.
What happens after public participation?
Once public participation has ended, the Council begins, or resumes, its formal business.
Members of the public may remain and listen, but they do not join the Councillors’ debate, or vote on decisions. The Chair may occasionally invite someone to provide factual information or clarification.
Parish Council decisions are made collectively by councillors at properly convened meetings. An individual councillor cannot make a Council decision or promise that a particular course of action will be taken.
Planning applications
Residents may comment during public participation on a planning application included on the agenda. The Parish Council will consider relevant local information before agreeing the representation it wishes to submit to Shropshire Council.
Morville Parish Council does not determine planning applications. Residents who wish for their views to be considered by the Local Planning Authority should also submit their comments directly to Shropshire Council through its planning portal. Speaking at a Parish Council meeting does not replace making your own representation.
Can a meeting ever be closed to the public?
Parish Council meetings are open to the public and press. In limited circumstances, the Council may resolve to exclude them while confidential or legally sensitive information is discussed.
If this is necessary, the reason will be stated and members of the public will be asked to leave for that part of the meeting. This is the exception rather than the usual practice.
Recording meetings
Members of the public may report on meetings that are open to the public, including by filming, photographing or making an audio recording.
Anyone intending to record a meeting is encouraged to let the Clerk know beforehand so that suitable arrangements can be made. Recording must not disrupt the meeting, and consideration should be given to members of the public who may not wish to be filmed.
Recording is not permitted during any part of a meeting from which the public has been lawfully excluded.
Accessibility
Morville Parish Council wants its meetings to be accessible and welcoming to everyone.
If you have an accessibility requirement or need information in a different format, please contact the Clerk before the meeting. The Council will do what it reasonably can to help you attend and participate.
After the meeting
Draft minutes are published following the meeting and provide a formal record of the business considered and decisions made. Minutes are approved at a subsequent Council meeting and may be amended before they become the final record.
The minutes are not intended to be a word-for-word transcript of everything said.
We look forward to welcoming you
You are welcome to attend for the whole meeting or only for the item that interests you. If you have never attended a Parish Council meeting before, please do come along; the Chair, councillors, and Clerk will be pleased to welcome you.