Further to the unexpected resignations of all the parish councillors except the Chairman in week commencing 26 April 2021, the parish council was rendered non-quorate [1] and unable to carry out any of its functions, hold meetings, co-opt new councillors, make payments, or comment on any consultations or planning applications, etc.
Using the power contained in Section 91 of the Local Government Act 1972, Canterbury City Council has made an Order to the Secretary of State, under the city council’s common seal, to appoint two of its own City Councillors [2] onto the parish council thereby making it able to function.
It is believed that Westbere Parish Council is the first parish council in the Canterbury district to ever become non-quorate.
In parallel to the Order being made, the Notice of Vacancies was posted on 04 May 2021 on the parish council noticeboards. If 10 or more electors write to Canterbury City Council’s Chief Executive by 24 May 2021 then an election will be called for, which would be held no later than 27 July 2021.
With that in mind a meeting of Westbere Parish Council will be held at the end of May or early June. As the legislation enabling virtual meetings ended on 07 May 2021 this meeting will be a face to face in-person meeting to be held in Westbere Village Hall. This meeting will be a public meeting and residents are welcome to attend. In light of the coronavirus and government restrictions still in place, the wearing of face masks, social distancing and other measures will be necessary, and numbers will be restricted to adhere to government’s requirements in force. A risk assessment is being worked on and more details will follow, along with the posting of the meeting agenda when a date has been set. The agenda will have only statutory items on it in order to keep the meeting as short as possible to comply with the current sector guidance on minimising risk.
For more details, or if anyone is interested in possibly filling one of the vacancies, please contact the Clerk.
[1] To be quorate the minimum number of councillors required is three. [2] Canterbury City Councillors, Cllr Louise Harvey-Quirke and Cllr Georgina Glover have now been appointed as temporary members until the parish council fills vacancies either through election or co-option.