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. 

You can also watch our video that explains the process, stages and time frame for the Community Governance Review.

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.

Have your say on the community governance review

We are not proposing any options at this stage but we are seeking proposals from:

• existing communities
• voluntary and interest groups
• individuals
• local organisations and businesses
• local representatives
• any other interest parties

This is referred to in the timetable as "stage one – invitation of initial submissions".

This can be done by:

• visiting our survey page
• attending a public briefing

Public briefings

We are holding public briefings that will provide additional information on:

• the review process and timetable
• what a community governance review seeks to achieve
• how to make a submission and what to consider as part of any submission

There will be a question and answer session.

View dates and times for the public briefings.

Timetable for the review

We must complete the Community Governance Review within 12 months from when we publish the Terms of Reference.

You can view our timetable below.

Notices and documents

You can view or download our notices and documents: