Community Governance Review: your questions
answered
What are community governance reviews?
Chapter 3 of Part 4 of the Local Government and Public
Involvement Health Act 2007 devolves the power to take decisions
about matters such as the creation of parishes and their electoral
arrangements form the Secretary of State and the Electoral
Commission to local government and local communities in
England.
Since 13 February 2008, district councils,
unitary county councils and London borough councils (principal
councils) have had responsibility for undertaking community
governance reviews and have been able to decide whether to give
effect to recommendations made in those reviews. In making that
decision, they will need to take account of the views of local
people.
The full text of the 2007 Act can be accessed
at: Local
Government and Public involvement in Health Act
2007.
Principal councils are also required to have regard to guidance on
undertaking community governance reviews, which has been published
by the Electoral Commission.
Why undertake a community governance
review?
A community governance review can be undertaken in response to
demographic changes such as a rise in population, for example as a
result of significant new housing development.
A review can also be triggered in a petition
is presented to the principal council asking for a review to be
undertaken, the 2007 Act places a duty on principal councils to
respond to such a petition. Sections 39-43 of the Act set out
prescriptive criteria, which the petition must meet in order to be
legally valid.
The objective of undertaking a community
governance review is to ensure that local governance will continue
to be effective and convenient and will reflect the identities and
interests of local communities.
Terms of Reference for community
governance reviews
The 2007 Act requires principal councils to determine and publish
the terms of reference under which a community governance review is
to be undertaken. It also requires that the terms of reference
specify the area under review. If any modifications are made to the
terms of reference, these must also be published.
Who undertakes community governance
reviews?
As the principal authority, Wychavon District
Council is responsible for undertaking any community governance
review within its electoral area.
Current community governance reviews-
None
For more information contact:
Electoral Services
Wychavon District Council
Civic Centre
Queen Elizabeth Drive
Pershore
Worcs
WR10 1PT
Email: elections@wychavon.gov.uk
Telephone: 01386 565437
