Parishes to be reviewed
Test Valley Borough Council is preparing to carry out a Community Governance Review of the structure of its parishes. This could result in the creation or abolition of parishes and parish councils, as well as changes to parish boundaries.
The work follows the Local Government Boundary Commission for England’s review of the Borough Council’s own wards, which took place earlier this year. A Community Governance Review will give local people the opportunity to have their views heard about where they believe parish arrangements should be changed.
TVBC’s Full Council meeting on Wednesday, 8 November will be asked to approve the Terms of Reference for the Review. Once those Terms have been approved and published, the Review will formally begin.
The Council will then start a consultation process in which residents will be asked to submit their views. Changes made as a result of the Review will come into force in time for the parish and town council elections scheduled for May 2019.
Corporate Portfolio Holder, Councillor Maureen Flood, said: “Once the Terms of Reference are agreed, we will open up the first consultation period to hear people’s views. We’ll be starting with a completely blank canvas and are open to all suggestions, from minor boundary changes to the more complex changes to accommodate our expanding communities.”