Lytham - Annual Town Meeting - Wednesday 13th May 2026
23rd of March, 2026
Good afternoon
Lytham Town Councillors would like to invite to invite the public, specifically residents to the first Annual Town Meeting which will be held at Lytham Institute in the evening of Wednesday 13th May 2026. The date has been changed from that previously notified to remove the calendar clash with the schools half-term, holiday week to seek to enable greater availability to attend.
The Annual Parish / Town Meeting is a meeting which is required to be held by law.
The legal requirement is found in Schedule 12, Part III, paragraphs 14(1–5) of the Local Government Act 1972: which states - “The parish meeting of a parish shall assemble annually on some day between 1st March and 1st June, both inclusive, in every year.”
In legal terms, a parish meeting in this context refers to the meeting of local government electors in a parish — the Annual Parish / Town Meeting — and is distinct from the business-focused Annual Meeting of the Parish/Town Council.
This is not to mean that business owners, employees and business users are unwelcome - it is simply that this is a clear focus towards the residents of the Lytham Wards.
This meeting is facilitated by the Council, but is not a meeting which covers Council business as such.
Agenda items can be proposed (in advance) by members of the public attending and motions, or decisions, can be raised for those attending to vote on.
These votes & decisions are only advisory to the Council and are not legally binding on the Council - although the Council will consider views raised.
This meeting is a key way in which Councillors can engage with the electors in Lytham and ensure that they have a strong understanding of all viewpoints.
Topics which attendees might wish to raise, for example, could include:
* How will Lytham Town Council's role change as a result of the Local Government Reorganisation? How does their Strategic Business Plan prepare the Town Council for these changes? What impact will there be to me Council Tax bill?
* Why does Lytham not have a Mayor when Kirkham and St Annes on the Sea do? What difference might that make? What costs would be involved?
* How do I stand for election for the Town Council in the 2027 elections? How does the Council seek to represent all elements of the communities of Lytham? What is the Council doing to improve contact with and representation from younger community members?
*What has the Town Council achieved since being established? What have you spent the Budget on? How does the Town Council improve connections with the community? What is the Town of Culture 2028 competition - and how much (if anything) is being spent on applying?