Annual Town Meeting
Under Section 9 of the Local Government Act 1972, every town and parish in England is required to hold an Annual Parish or Town Meeting between 1 March and 1 June each year.
The Annual Town Meeting is not a Council meeting. Instead, it is a meeting of the local government electors of the parish, providing an opportunity for residents to discuss matters relating to Penrith and raise issues of local interest.
Who Can Convene the Meeting
The Annual Town Meeting may be convened by:
- The Chair of the Town Council
- Any two Town Councillors who are registered electors of the parish
- Any six local government electors registered in the parish
Who Can Attend and Take Part
The meeting is open to the public. All residents who are registered on the electoral roll for Penrith are entitled to:
- Attend the meeting
- Raise an issue of their choice
- Vote on matters considered at the meeting
Any Town Councillors who attend do so as members of the public, rather than in their capacity as councillors.
Where the Chair of the Town Council is not a registered elector for the parish, they are still entitled to attend and chair the meeting. However, under Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972, they may only vote in the event of a casting vote.
Agenda and Questions
The agenda for the Annual Town Meeting will be published and made available on the Council’s website and noticeboards at least seven clear days before the meeting.
Residents are welcome to ask questions at the meeting. However, where a question or issue requires a detailed response, residents are encouraged to submit the details in advance and in writing. This helps ensure that a full and informed response can be provided.
Information on how to submit a question will be included on the meeting agenda, which is normally published around three weeks before the meeting.
Agenda and Minutes
Links to the agenda and minutes for the Annual Town Meeting are provided below. Archive copies of the agendas and minutes of the Annual Town Meeting can be requested by contacting the Penrith Town Council office.
Please use the bold, underlined links to open the PDF documents. Where no link is shown, the document has not yet been uploaded and will be added in due course:
2025 - 2026 Municipal Year
Agenda – 18 May 2026
Draft Minutes – 18 May 2026