The Annual Meeting of the Council is a meeting of the parish council. It must be held in May, except in election year when it is held between the fourth and the eighteenth day after the election (inclusive), LGA 1972 sch 12 para 7.

The first task at the Annual Meeting of the Council (or the Annual General Meeting) is the election of a chairman. The previous chairman (even if no longer a councillor) presides for the election of the chair - otherwise the council must elect a chairman in order to elect a chairman! The council can elect a vice-chairman but this is not required by law.

The Annual Parish Meeting is a meeting of the parish electorate. It is not a parish council meeting although the parish council chairman will call the meeting and, if present, will chair the event. The Annual Parish Meeting must be held between March 1st and June 1st, LGA 1972 sch 12 para 14.

There is no prescribed format for this meeting and its recommendations are not binding on the council.