Having served as Secretary to the Parochial Church Council
of St. Mary’s Church, Hemingbrough, and written the Profile of Hemingbrough,
Barlby and Riccall for the last Parish Interregnum, I know something about writing
minutes.
Parish Council minutes are the sole responsibility of the
Clerk, even if she or he takes instructions from the Chairman about what to
include and how to write the text. The
minutes are the Council’s Legal Record, and are acceptable when ‘agreed’ in an
England Law Court.
Before the days of recording Council Meetings by the public,
minutes could be 'shaded' in favour of the Clerk/Chairman, or even invented.
I threatened the former Hemingbrough Parish Clerk with
action over one set of published minutes.
The Council withdrew them from the village Notice Board (an astounding thing to do) and
substituted a revised version, and that was in the days before video recording
captured every move of conniving or lazy Councillors agreeing what was ‘a true
record’.
Here is a transcript of part of the May 2017 Council.
It will be interesting on Thursday to read
what the Clerk has minuted about the Chairman’s bullying refusing to allow
Councillor Chilvers to put a legitimate Counter Proposal and seek a Seconder.
Click here for a 52
seconds video record posted YouTube
Chairman
Strelczenie
“So, is that a proposal
then, Richard?” (Councillor Drew)
Richard had proposed
that we hand the Notice Board to the Church.
Has he got a Seconder?
(Councillor Forbes Davidson
raises his hand to second the motion.)
Strelczenie
OK, then. Have we got any Counter Proposals?
(Councillor Chilvers
leans forward in his seat and starts to respond to the Chairman’s question)
(Strelczenie, raising his
coarse voice, addresses Councillor Chilvers)
NO! NO! We’ve got a proposal. Don’t start talking about it when we’ve got a
proposal.
You’ve read Standing
Orders for t’ first time in your life! Now, USE Em!
(Chilvers attempts to
respond)
Strelczenie
Just use ‘em!
So, we’ve started - Got a proposal - Seconder – Can we have a show of hands for
(garbled) to the Church?
Parish Clerk
Will you abstain,
Roland? (Chilvers)
(Chilvers responding
to the Clerk)
No. I’m going to
clarify. I wanted a Counter Proposal that we give it (Notice Board) to the
Church …...
Strelczenie interrupting Chilvers
To late! To late! We’ve moved on!
Chilvers responding
to Strelczenie’s interruption
Yes, because you wouldn’t
let me …. with Counter Proposal
Parish Clerk in quiet
voice addresses Strelczenie who is furiously scribbling on his note pad
Yes. I think Roland
can … He did mention it. Counter Proposal (whispering)
Chairman Strelczenie
moved on with the Agenda and the request for a Counter Proposal was ignored by both Chairman and Parish Clerk
