Residents asked to have their say on Town and Parish Councils
Residents across Telford and Wrekin are being encouraged to have their say about their local Town and Parish Council arrangements, through a recently launched Community Governance Review.
Conducted by local authorities, Community Governance Reviews are a legal process to make sure that Town and Parish Council arrangements best represent people living in the area. This means making sure that those living in the area, and other interested groups, have a say in how their local communities are represented.
Community Governance Reviews can consider a range of option including creating, merging, or altering parishes, changing the size of parishes or the number of councillors in them. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government recommends they are carried out periodically, as towns and parishes grow over time.
Telford & Wrekin Council has now launched the Community Governance Review, which is open now until Monday 20 November. Resident can give feedback and have their say at: www.telford.gov.uk/pollingplacesreviewtelford
Councillor Helena Morgan, Chair of Telford & Wrekin Council’s Boundary Review Committee, said: “Having recently completed an Electoral Boundary Review in Telford and Wrekin, prior to the last local election, now is a good time to review the next tier of local democracy to make sure arrangements still best represent the people of our borough.
“There has been significant growth in many of our towns and parishes since the last Community Governance Review, so it’s appropriate that we reassess arrangements, taking into account the size, population and boundaries of our communities and parishes.
“We welcome feedback from any residents and interested organisations who may wish to comment on existing arrangements in their local area, or make alternative proposals. Local knowledge and the experience of our communities is vital in this review. We’ll be consulting directly with Town and Parish Councils, and all residents of the borough have the opportunity to have their say too.”
Following this initial round of consultation, draft recommendations will be drawn up, giving residents and town and parish councils the opportunity to review the proposals and give their feedback, before final recommendations are brought into effect in Autumn 2024, with elections then taking place in May 2027 to the new arrangements.
