What is a Community Governance Review?
A Community Governance Review (CGR) is a review carried out by a principal council and is used to consider whether parish council arrangements in an area should be changed.
A community governance review looks at the whole or part of an area to consider:
- the creation, merger, alteration or abolition of parishes
- the naming of parishes and the style of new parishes
- the electoral arrangements for parishes, such as the ordinary year of election, council size, wards, and numbers of councillors
- the grouping or de-grouping of parishes
The recommendations of any review must:
- improve community engagement
- bring communities closer together
- create better local democracy
- result in more effective and convenient delivery of local services
The law allows us to use a review to assess and make changes to community governance within our area. The government's website has guidance about carrying out a community governance review.
A Community Governance Review can be initiated by one of the following:
- a valid petition from electors requesting a Community Governance Review and specifying recommendations which the petitioners wish the Community Governance Review to make
- a formal request from a parish council, following which approval is then required from the principal council
- a decision taken by the principal council itself, usually in circumstances where there have been significant changes in population or in response to changes such as when recommended following a Local Government Boundary Commission review
A review will begin with publication of the terms of reference, following which consultation with electors and other stakeholders will take place. Following the consultation final recommendations will be made, for resolution by full council.
Current Community Governance Reviews
Harrogate and Scarborough
Review of the Unparished areas of Harrogate and Scarborough, including neighbouring boundary parishes of Eastfield, Newby and Scalby and Osgodby.