We are carrying out a Community Governance Review (CGR) of all existing parishes and unparished areas, from 15 October 2024 until October/November 2025.
A Community Governance Review is a process which provides an opportunity to review, create and make changes to governance arrangements for town and parish councils and parish areas.
Have your say
We are carrying out a Community Governance Review (CGR) of all existing parishes and unparished areas.
You can also view the draft recommendations that were:
The draft proposals were supported and are now subject to a full consultation which started on 31 March and will end on 22 June 2025.
Have your say by taking part in the consultation.
What the review can and cannot change
The review may consider one or more of the following options:
- creating, merging, altering or abolishing parishes
- the naming of parishes and the style of new parishes including the potential creation of town and parish councils
- the electoral arrangements for parishes (for instance, the ordinary year of elections; 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 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
- influence or change the amount of money that an existing parish or town council raises through council tax (known as ‘precept’)
How the review will be carried out
When assessing any suggestions from interested parties, we will be required to take into account both the:
- impact of the community governance arrangements on community cohesion
- size, population and boundaries of a local community or parish suggestion
We will also be required to ensure that community governance within the area under review would be:
- reflective of the identities and interests of the community in that area; and
- effective and convenient
Any other factors, such as potential council tax precept levels, cannot be considered.
Timetable for the review
We must complete the Community Governance Review within 12 months from when we publish the Terms of Reference.
| Action | When | Further details |
| Report to Full Council | 15 October 2024 | Council approves the principle of the Community Governance Review and its Terms of Reference |
| Publish Terms of Reference |
16 October 2024 |
Publish Terms of Reference and notify stakeholders of the commencement of the Review. |
| Preliminary Stage | From 21 October 2024 to 15 November 2024 | Offer of local briefings and meetings with stakeholders |
| Stage One – invite initial submissions | From 25 November 2024 to 19 January 2025 | Publish draft consultation document and invite initial submissions/representations:
|
| Stage Two - consider initial submissions/representations received and prepare report for Full Council | From 20 January 2025 to 25 March 2025 | Consider any submissions/representations made and prepare report of draft recommendations for Full Council |
| Stage Three - publish draft recommendations for further public consultation |
From 31 March 2025 to 22 June 2025 |
Publish draft recommendations as agreed by Full Council, for further consultation with:
|
| Stage Four – consider consultation responses and representations and make final recommendations to Full Council | From 23 June 2025 to 14 October 2025 | Consider any further submissions/representations and prepare final report of final recommendations for Full Council |
| Publish final recommendations as agreed by Full Council | October/November 2025 | Publish final recommendations as agreed by Full Council and make necessary Orders. |
Notices and documents
You can view or download our notices and documents:
pdf , 85.94 KB
pdf , 64.95 KB