CHARD Town Council will be hosting the Annual Town Meeting on Monday, March 28 at the Guildhall, Fore Street, Chard.

The meeting commences at 7pm. All Parish and Town Councils throughout England are required by law to hold an Annual Parish Meeting.

The Annual Parish Meeting is a meeting of all the local government electors for the parish.

It is not a Meeting of the Parish Council. Members of the public (including the press) are welcome at the meeting but the only persons entitled to speak and vote are the persons registered as local government electors for the parish.

The purpose of the meeting is so that the council can explain what it has been doing over the last year and is an excellent opportunity for electors to have their say on anything they consider is important to the people of the town.

The mayor will read the Chard Town Council annual report and there will be a police report and update.

Any registered elector may ask questions of the council, which will usually be answered by the mayor, the town clerk, or a designated councillor.

An elector may also make suggestions and comment on anything pertinent to the people of Chard.

At the Annual Parish Meeting, the council will be honoured to give out the Outstanding Citizen’s Awards to local residents of Chard who have contributed to the town in some outstanding way.

This year also sees the introduction of the Honourary Alder award to be presented to a town councillor who has contributed positively to the town of Chard but who has never held the office of mayor.

The meeting is your opportunity as a resident of Chard to have your say and become involved in shaping your town in the future.

Refreshments will be served at the end of the meeting.