Do you support changes to your parish?
Residents and organisations have an opportunity to share their views on proposed changes to parish and community councils in Three Rivers.
The consultation is part of a legal process called a Community Governance Review (CGR), being carried out by Three Rivers District Council.
The latest consultation comes after councillors considered residents’ views from an earlier one conducted over the summer, as part of a two-stage process. Proposals are now being shared for feedback between 16 October and 15 January.
Those suggestions include creating a new parish council to cover Maple Cross, West Hyde, Penn and Mill End – for which the earlier consultation indicated support – as well as potential changes to other parish boundaries, parish ward boundaries, ward names and governance arrangements in certain areas of the district.
The consultation provides an opportunity to comment on the proposed changes, suggest alternatives and share any additional information that the district council should consider.
The CGR is examining the current arrangements and follows the government’s decision to restructure local government, replacing county, district and borough councils in Hertfordshire with four unitary authorities. This process of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) was paused by the government in September, but was due to take effect by April 2028. Despite the LGR pause, the district council has agreed to give residents this opportunity to have their say on the current parish arrangements.
Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst OBE, the leader of the council, said: “No final decisions have been made – we will listen to what residents say which will help inform what we do, and ensure that any changes appropriately reflect the needs and identities of the communities they affect.
“Parish councils are the first tier of democracy in England and provide vital local services that can include allotments, community halls and even village fetes. We now have some specific proposals for you to consider, and this is your chance to influence the future of local democracy in your area so have your say today.”
Residents can take part in the CGR consultation and give their views on the district’s existing parish and community councils as well as proposed changed.
For more information and to take part in the consultation visit: https://haveyoursay.threerivers.gov.uk/district-wide-community-governance-review
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