2025/26 Community Governance Reviews

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

For additional information, please view our frequently asked questions page.

Parish areas under review

A list of all parishes under review, including any affected neighbouring parishes, can be found in our Terms of reference.

A stage one consultation has taken place, the recommendations of which can be found in this report.

A stage two consultation will now commence on 19 March 2026 for a further twelve weeks.

All stage two consultation surveys and recommendations can be found below:

Areas which have a parish meeting but do not have a parish council, wishing to review their boundaries

• Barden
• Bolton on Swale
• Dunsforths
• Rand Grange
• Spennithorne
• Thornthwaite with Padside

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

• Potto Parish Council

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 

• Staintondale Parish Council

Parish councils requesting a review with a view to reducing their council size to enable them to be quorate

• Escrick Parish Council
• Sherburn Parish Council

Stage one key dates