Parish Councils Amendment Act 2022

What this bill does

This bill changes how Parish Councils operate by giving the Minister more power to review councils and decide whether they should continue to exist. It also reduces the minimum number of council members from 12 to just 3, removes responsibility for parish rest homes from councils, and changes how council expenses are paid.

If passed (voted YES)

• The Minister can review any Parish Council and potentially shut it down if deemed necessary
• Parish Councils can operate with as few as 3 members instead of the current requirement of 12
• Parish rest homes will no longer be managed by Parish Councils - this responsibility moves elsewhere
• Parish Councils will pay their own expenses instead of relying on government funding for certain costs

If rejected (voted NO)

• Parish Councils continue operating under current rules without threat of ministerial review
• All Parish Councils must maintain 12 members as currently required
• Parish Councils keep responsibility for managing parish rest homes
• Current government funding arrangements for Parish Council expenses remain unchanged

Who it affects

This primarily affects the nine Parish Councils across Bermuda and their members, as well as residents who rely on parish services like rest homes. Anyone who participates in local parish governance or uses parish services will see changes in how these councils operate.