Community Governance Review Mill End Maple Cross West Hyde

Community Governance Review

A Community Governance Review provides an opportunity to review and make changes to governance arrangements for town and parish councils.

Overview

A Community Governance Review is a process which provides an opportunity to review, create and make changes to governance arrangements for town and parish councils and parish areas.

Notice of Community Governance Review (PDF)

Community Governance Review Terms of Reference (PDF, 3.7 MB)

Update July 2026:

This Community Governance Review has been replaced with the District wide Community Governance Review.

Why are we doing the Community Governance Review

Councillors of Three Rivers District Council requested that the district council consider this matter. Nevertheless, it is good practice for district councils to periodically look at parish boundaries. Over time, the natural boundaries that created parishes can change, and it may or may not be helpful to change the boundaries.

Timetable of Community Governance Review

Update July 2026:

This Community Governance Review has been replaced with the District wide Community Governance Review.

What the review can and cannot change

The review may consider the following options:

• Creating, merging, altering or abolishing parishes
• The naming of parishes and the style of new parishes including the potential creation of town and parish councils
• The electoral arrangements for parishes. For instance, the ordinary year of elections; council size; the number of councillors to be elected to the council and parish warding
• Grouping parishes under a common parish or de-grouping parishes
• Other types of local arrangements including parish meetings

The review cannot:

• Change the number of councillors on Three Rivers District Council
• Influence or change the amount of money that an existing parish or town council raises through Council Tax known as precept.

How the review will be carried out

When assessing any suggestions from interested parties, we are required to take into account the:

• Impact of the community governance arrangements on community cohesion
• Size, population and boundaries of a local community or parish suggestion

We also need to ensure that community governance within the area under review will be:

• Reflective of the identities and interests of the community in that area
• Effective and convenient

Any other factors, such as potential Council Tax precept levels, cannot be considered.

How can I have my say

The consultation was open between 24 November 2025 and 26 January 2026 on the council’s consultation platform.

Update July 2026:

This Community Governance Review has been replaced with the District wide Community Governance Review.