When can a Parish Councillor abstain from voting?

[rosie]

I attended a Parish Council meeting last evening where a request had been made from a local organisation for funding assistance, as is, I believe, quite common. One of the Parish Councillors seemed quite hostile to this application but rather than saying he voted against it, he said he would refrain from voting, preferring to "reserve his position", whatever that means. Is this normal practice? Surely a Parish Councillor should be prepared to nail their colours to the mast and vote like all the others, shouldn't they?

[Mike Goss]

A Parish Councillor can vote or not vote as they wish. There is no obligation to cast a vote at all.