St James Parish Meeting: An Introduction

St James South Elmham has a Parish Meeting as its form of local government, rather than a Parish Council. We do not have a separate parish council nor parish councillors: our Parish Meeting consists of all the local government electors for the Parish of St James.

While there are some 16 parishes with a parish meeting in East Suffolk, their constitution and functions are not widely known. Parish meetings are distinct from parish councils and are a form of direct democracy uncommon in the UK - it has been said that parish meetings represent the most local form of local government. They are legally recognised as local government bodies and subject to a number of Acts of Parliament and regulations. They have a wide variety of functions, powers and rights conferred by Act of Parliament, acquired from pre-1894 authorities or by Order from their local district council.

The St James Parish Meeting first met in 1895 under the provisions of the Local Government Act of 1894 and has operated continuously since then on behalf of the residents of St James. We do not have a separate parish council nor parish councillors: the Parish Meeting consists of all the local government electors for the Parish of St James, at the current time about 160.

Under the provisions of the 1972 Act a parish meeting, as well as being required to elect a chairman, may appoint a clerk and a committee of electors of the parish to help discharge its functions and the St James Parish Meeting has done so. All are volunteers. We deal with other levels and functions of local government via East Suffolk Council, through which we collect an annual precept as part of council tax payments, or Suffolk County Council.

We believe that the characteristics, powers and functions of a parish meeting particularly suit the needs of a small rural community such as ours. Our Parish Meeting encourages all residents (those on the electoral role to be precise) to participate individually and directly in the affairs and governance of the village, to attend and speak at parish-wide meetings, to vote on matters directly relevant to the community, to identify needs and opportunities, and contribute their services to the community. These characteristics have continued to enable it to respond flexibly to local, district and national issues and to run its own projects for the direct benefit of St James.

To read more about the St James South Elmham Parish Meeting please read about our Powers and Functions.