Agenda item

Report from the Executive Director of Corporate Finance.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the progress of the Community Governance Review following completion of the first stage of consultation.

2.    Note the proposed next steps in the review process, including the development of draft recommendations, further consultation, and the timetable for reporting final recommendations.

3.    Note the extension of the second stage consultation period to twelve weeks to maximise opportunities for engagement with the draft recommendations.

Consideration was given to the report which provided Cabinet with an interim update on the progress of the Community Governance Review following the completion of the first stage of public consultation. A report setting out the draft recommendations arising from the review would be presented to Cabinet in October 2026 for consideration and approval. Subject to Cabinet's approval, a second stage of public consultation would be undertaken to seek views on the draft recommendations. Following the conclusion of the consultation period, a final recommendations report would then be brought to Cabinet. It was a function of Council to approve the final recommendations arising from the review.

Following approval by Cabinet on 13th April 2026, the Council commenced a Community Governance Review on 1st May 2026. An initial consultation took place between 1st May and 26th June 2026, providing residents, local councils, community groups, and other stakeholders with the opportunity to submit their views on existing governance arrangements and any potential changes they would wish the review to consider.

The consultation received just under 200 responses, representing views on existing Parish, Town, and Community Councils, together with interest in the establishment of new Parish Councils. A summary of the number of responses received by area was shown in Appendix 1.

The Officer Working Group was in the process of reviewing the consultation responses, together with the statutory criteria for community governance reviews, to inform the development of draft recommendations. An information session for Members would be held during September to provide an overview of the consultation responses and the draft recommendations arising from the review.

The Draft Recommendations report would be presented to Cabinet on 12th October 2026, to seek approval to undertake a second phase of consultation on the draft recommendations. Subject to Cabinet approval, the second phase of consultation would commence on 26th October 2026. To maximise opportunities for engagement with the draft recommendations, the consultation period would be extended from 8 weeks to 12 weeks. Although the consultation would span the Christmas period, the timetable had been designed to provide additional opportunity for participation during January 2027 before the consultation closed.

Following the second consultation stage, final recommendations would be prepared and reported to Cabinet in Spring 2027, before being referred to Council for approval. Any approved changes would then be implemented through a Community Governance Order at the next scheduled elections in May 2028.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the progress of the Community Governance Review following completion of the first stage of consultation.

2.    Note the proposed next steps in the review process, including the development of draft recommendations, further consultation, and the timetable for reporting final recommendations.

3.    Note the extension of the second stage consultation period to 12 weeks to maximise opportunities for engagement with the draft recommendations.