A list of all parishes and parish councils under review, including any affected neighbouring parishes or parish councils, can be found in our terms of reference.
Why are we conducting a Community Governance Review?
On 20 June 2025, the Standards and Governance Committee recommended to full council, who subsequently agreed on 16 July 2025, to conduct a Community Governance Review (CGR) for a defined number of parish areas.
It is proposed that the CGR commence on 29 September 2025. The council must as part of the CGR consult with local people and take into account any representations made in connection with the review. The CGR must ensure that the proposed community governance reflects the interests and identities of the community. It must also ensure that the arrangements are effective and convenient for the electors of that community.
The terms of reference define the parish areas subject to the proposed CGR. The areas for review have been identified by considering:
- any requests that have been made for a CGR
- where the council’s electoral services team have identified that there are grouped parish councils which are not currently represented in each parish area and as such may benefit from a review
- where the council’s electoral services team have identified that there is an internal ward boundary that would benefit from clarification and a review
A CGR will not automatically mean there will be changes but it will examine whether there is a case for change. Any neighbouring parishes that could be affected by the above requests and proposals will also be included in the consultation exercise.
Who will undertake the CGR?
As the relevant principal authority, we are responsible for conducting any CGR’s within our electoral area.
We will oversee the review and produce draft and final recommendations. In coming to its recommendations, we will need to take account of the views of local people. A full consultation process will form part of the CGR to ensure that the views of local people are considered. Full council will approve the final recommendations before a Re-organisation Order is made.
How will the review be carried out?
Before making any recommendations or publishing final proposals, we must consult local government electors for the area under review and any other person or body, including a local authority, which appears to us to have an interest in the review. The review consists of 2 phases of consultation before reaching any final recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which parishes are being reviewed as part of the Community Governance Review?
Why have I been contacted when I do not live in one of the parishes named as being under review?
If you do not live in one of the parish areas under review but have been contacted about the Community Governance Review (CGR), it is probably because you live in a neighbouring parish that may be affected by potential revised governance arrangements.
Before making any recommendations or publishing final proposals, we must consult local government electors for the area under review and any other person or body, including a local authority, which appears to us to have an interest in the review.
This may include neighbouring parishes or parish councils, particularly if a merger between two parishes is being considered.
How do I access the survey?
There are 19 individual surveys, each relating to a different parish or parish council. A list of all areas under review can be found below under ‘Parish areas under review’. You can then click on the relevant hyperlink which will redirect you to a new webpage. Please read the explanatory text for the relevant Community Governance Review and click the green button to answer the survey.
Can I complete a paper copy?
Yes, you can request a paper copy of the relevant survey by contacting the Community Governance Review team via cgr@northyorks.gov.uk or Customer Services by phone on 0300 131 2131.
You will need to provide your full postal address. A paper copy of the relevant survey will be posted out to you with an accompanying freepost envelope to return the survey to us.
When does the first stage consultation end?
The deadline for submitting survey responses during stage one is Monday 22 December 2025.
What happens after stage one?
After the first stage consultation ends on 22 December 2025, our Standards and Governance Committee will meet in early 2026 to review the stage one consultation results and look at proposals for the stage two consultation.
A full council meeting will take place on Wednesday 18 March 2026 to formally approve the proposals for the second stage consultation.
Please refer to our timetable for further details.
Who do I contact for further information?
If you have any queries about the Community Governance Review, please contact the CGR team via cgr@northyorks.gov.uk or Customer Services by phone on 0300 131 2131.
How do I find out about the current governance arrangements of one of the parishes under review?
Please refer to Annex B which provides information on current electorate totals, plus electorate forecasts for 2030, precept information and the number of councillors that currently sit on each relevant parish council.
If you would like to find out any further information about each area under review, please contact us via cgr@northyorks.gov.uk.
What is the difference between parish councils and parish meetings?
There are several key differences between parish councils and parish meetings, one being that a parish council consists of elected parish councillors, whilst a parish meeting consists only of local government electors.
For more information on the differences between parish councils and parish meetings please refer to our parish council and parish meetings forms of governance page.
When will any new arrangements take effect?
The review will be completed when the council adopts a reorganisation of community governance order.
Any new governance arrangements will be implemented at the next scheduled parish council elections in May 2027.
How are parish councils funded?
Parish councils are primarily funded through an annual precept. The precept is raised through a separate charge which is added to your council tax bill and collected by us on behalf of the relevant parish council.
It is for the parish council to determine how much funding is needed in order to provide services and facilities for the parish community.
The amount you pay depends on the size of the parish council, the services that it provides, the number of properties in the parish council and the council tax banding of your property.
Parish meetings can also opt to raise a precept.
How are precepts worked out for parishes that are grouped with other parishes within the same parish council?
When parishes are grouped under a common parish council, Section 14(2D) of the LGA 1972 as amended by the local government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, provides that the common parish council is treated in terms of subsection (2) (and its variants) as though it were the council of a single parish, but with the names of all the parishes in the group included in its name, or a suitable group name. In effect, this means that the grouped parishes are served by one corporate body (the group council), not multiple corporate bodies operating in concert. Therefore, a common parish council for grouped parishes is a single corporate body.
Parishes within a group do not request separate precepts, the precept is determined for the group and the band D value is then noted for each parish within that group.
Parish areas under review
A list of all parishes under review, including any affected neighbouring parishes, can be found in our Terms of reference.
To respond to our online survey please click on the relevant parish below:
Areas which have a parish meeting but do not have a parish council, wishing to review their boundaries
Parish councils or residents in the area have asked to review the boundaries and governance arrangements
- Kirby Hill and District Parish Council
- Lillings Ambo Parish Council
- Newall with Clifton Parish Council
- Thorpe Willoughby Parish Council
- Welburn Parish Council
Request that the parish council be dissolved, and a parish meeting be put in its place
Grouped parish councils not currently represented in each parish area
- Constable Burton and Finghall Parish Council
- Hudswell and District Parish Council
- Kirklington with Sutton Howgrave Parish Council
- Thornton-le-Beans with Crosby and Cotcliffe Parish Council
Parish ward boundaries require clarification
Parish councils requesting a review with a view to reducing their council size to enable them to be quorate
Stage one key dates
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 16 July 2025 | We considered a report from the full council meeting and approved the Community Governance Review. |
| 29 September 2025 | |
| 29 September to 22 December 2025 | Formal stage one consultation live |