Community Governance Review

Following the close of the 12 week public consultation, a Member Working Group will consider all the submissions received and will prepare final recommendations for consideration by Full Council at its meeting on 14 July 2022.

Any changes adopted by Full Council will take effect on 1 April 2024. The first elections under any new community governance arrangements will take place on 2 May 2024.

What is a Community Governance Review?

A Community Governance Review is a legal process where the council will consult with those living in the area, and other interested parties, on the most suitable ways of representing the people in the parishes identified in the review. This means making sure that those living in the area, and other interested groups, have a say in how their local communities are represented.  

What the review can and can’t change

The review can consider one or more of the following options:  

• creating, merging, altering or abolishing parishes
• the naming of parishes and the style of new parishes and the creation of town councils  
• the electoral arrangements for parishes (for instance, the ordinary year of election; council size; the number of councillors to be elected to the council, and parish warding)  
• grouping parishes under a common parish council or de-grouping parishes  
• other types of local arrangements, including parish meetings

The review cannot:

• change the number of councillors on Dorset Council
• change Dorset Council ward boundaries
• change the amount of money that a parish council raises through your council tax (known as ‘precept’)

Who carries out the review

Dorset Council is statutorily responsible for carrying out this Community Governance Review. Formal decisions as to the Terms of Reference for the Review and the recommendations arising from the Review will be made by Full Council.

Why we are having a review

The Guidance on Community Governance Reviews issued by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government published in 2008 recommends that principal councils should undertake a Review of its area every 10-15 years.  For some areas of the Council, a Review has not been undertaken for some time and, following the creation of Dorset Council, it is deemed appropriate to undertake a Review of all parishes within its area.  A Community Governance Review offers an opportunity to put in place strong, clearly defined boundaries, tied to firm ground features, and remove any parish boundaries anomalies that may exist. 

What the review will focus on

A Community Governance Review is required to take into account: 

• the impact of community governance arrangements on community cohesion; and
• the size, population and boundaries of a local community or parish

The council is required to ensure that community governance within the area under review will:

• be reflective of the identities and interests of the community in that area; and 
• be effective and convenient

Any other factors, such as council tax precept levels, cannot be considered.