Community Governance Review

Overview

A community governance review provides an opportunity for the Council to review and make changes to community governance within its area. Such reviews can be undertaken in response to demographic changes such as a rise in population as a result of significant new housing development or can be prompted through the presentation of a petition to the Council.

Who undertakes a Community Governance Review?

As the principal authority, Cheshire West and Chester Council is responsible for undertaking any community governance review within its electoral area. Formal decisions as to the Terms of Reference for the Review and the recommendations arising from the Review will be made by Full Council.

How to instigate a Community Governance Review?

Under the Local Government and Public Involvement and Health Act 2007, local electors can petition Cheshire West and Chester Council for a community governance review to be undertaken. The petition must set out at least one recommendation why the petitioners want the review and what it wants the Council to consider. For a petition to be valid, it must be signed by the requisite number of local electors. It is recommended that petitioners aim to collect the requisite number of signatures based on the most recently published electoral register. It should be against this register that the petition thresholds (set out below) will be assessed. The three thresholds are:

a) for an area with less than 500 local electors, the petition must be signed by at least 50% of them

b) for an area with between 500 and 2,500 local electors, the petition must be signed by at least 250 of them

c) for an area with more than 2,500 local electors, the petition must be signed by at least 10% of them

Alternatively, a Town or Parish Council can request a community governance review takes place of their area. The Town or Parish Council needs to formally resolve and agree to contact Cheshire West and Chester Council requesting that it undertakes a Community Governance Review and the reasons for their request. These details must be emailed to democraticservices@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

Cheshire West and Chester Council can decide to undertake its own review and this can be in response to the growth in population, new housing developments or a ward boundary review.

Community Governance Reviews can typically take up to 12 months to complete and any current reviews need to be completed by December 2026, so that any potential recommendations for change can come into force by the next scheduled local elections in May 2027.

Further guidance for Community Governance Reviews can be found on the Government’s website:

Guidance on community governance reviews (PDF, 322KB)

Current Reviews

The below lists the ongoing and pending Community Governance Reviews including key information, terms of reference, and links to resident consultations.