Annual Town Meeting

Parts of England with parish or town councils hold a meeting at least once a year to give electors the opportunity to raise issues of importance to them, to discuss these issues and vote on them without the need for politicians.  In other words, people can decide for themselves.

This year the Annual Town Meeting for Hebden Royd Town Council, the meeting for electors, will be held on 29th April 2015 at Waterfront Hall in the Town Hall, Hebden Bridge at 7:30 pm.

The Agenda consists of;

  • Apologies for absence
  • Notice of Meeting
  • Minutes of Annual Town Meeting – 7th May 2014
  • Statement of Accounts of the Hebden Royd Town Council for the year ended 31st March 2015
  • Any other Town Business, whether raised by an elector or otherwise.

The first four items are normally considered swiftly but Item 5 allows anything that an elector wishes to discuss and the issue can be voted on, not just by councillors but by any elector of Hebden Royd.  The subject can be anything an elector wishes to raise because they feel it is important.

Examples of topic could be the provision of allotments, traffic & parking, local parks and facilities, or planning issues. 

Clerk to Hebden Royd Town Council, Jason Boom said, "people will spend time writing to newspapers and websites to discuss matters which affect them, often critical of politicians and the decisions they make, but are absent when presented with a formal opportunity to highlight an issue and start the process of actually doing something. The Annual Town Meeting is an opportunity to start the process".

If you want your voice to be heard and convince others of the importance of your view, then come to the meeting and speak.