Reviews into town and parish governance arrangements continue

Wiltshire Council has started a review into the governance arrangements of some further town and parish areas and provided an update on an ongoing review taking place for the Malmesbury area.

Known as a Community Governance Review, this process provides an opportunity to make changes to governance arrangements for town and parish councils, and parish areas. This is to ensure that they continue to be reflective of the identity and interest of local communities, and that they are as efficient and effective in their governance as possible. A Community Governance Review is not responsible for the number of boundary of unitary divisions of Wiltshire Council. That is a process known as an Electoral Review and is conducted by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE)

In 2019 Wiltshire Council contacted town and parish councils requesting expressions of interest for any changes to governance from parishes. A number of areas have been reviewed each year since.

At its meeting on 31 May 2022 the council's Electoral Review Committee approved the terms of reference for a Community Governance Review to start on 19 August, to include the following areas:

• Netheravon/Figheldean
• Warminster
• Westbury and surrounding areas
• Tidworth/Ludgershall
• Castle Combe, Biddestone and Slaughterford, Nettleton, Grittleton, Yatton Keynell
• Fovant, Donhead St Mary, Monkton Farleigh, Grimstead

Eleven other areas which have submitted a request will be reviewed at a later date. Throughout the process the views of local people and stakeholders will be sought. Following a detailed and robust process, it is expected that final recommendations will be considered by Full Council in July 2023.  People should visit https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council-democracy-cgr for further information.

In addition, further consultation is now taking place related to an ongoing Community Governance Review of the Malmesbury area. At a meeting earlier in the month (August), the Electoral Review Committee considered an information pack compiling all relevant materials relating to the proposals in Malmesbury. This included a revised boundary line submitted by Brokenborough Parish Council, a new proposal submitted by Malmesbury Town Council and a joint proposal by Cllr Gavin Grant and Cllr Martin Smith. The committee considered all of the information, confirmed some of its previous recommendations and agreed to an online consultation on an amended recommendation relating to the warding of Malmesbury Town. This consultation is now underway and can be found at https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council-democracy-cgr. It runs until 16 September.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Chairman of the Electoral Review Committee of Wiltshire Council, said: Community Governance Reviews are detailed collaborative processes, which are vital and necessary as they affect the day-to-day arrangements of parish and town councils which will ultimately have an impact on local residents' lives.

We thank everyone who supports us with this work and provides feedback,which will help us arrive at the best solution for the affected areas.

Any changes to the areas of parishes would have to be effective from the start of the financial year on 1 April 2025.

Regular updates and relevant information can be found at https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council-democracy-cgr.