BRENTWOOD BOROUGH COUNCIL
Public notice
Community Governance Review 2025
NOTICE is hereby given
that Brentwood Borough Council will be undertaking a review of the local governance and electoral arrangements for the whole of the Brentwood council area, including both parished and unparished areas.
The aim of the review is to consider and bring about improved community engagement, better local democracy and more effective and convenient delivery of local services, and to ensure that electors across the borough are treated equitably and fairly.
The review will be conducted in accordance with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 and other relevant legislation. Regard will be given to the Guidance on community governance reviews issued by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
The council is required by the Act to ensure that community governance within the Borough area:
- Reflects the identities and interests of the local community; and
- Is effective and convenient.
In carrying out the review the council must also take into account:
- The impact of community governance arrangements on community cohesion; and
- The size, population and boundaries of a local community or parish.
It is for the council to decide how to undertake the review, but it must consult the local government electors for the area under review and any other person or body (including a local authority) which appears to the council to have an interest in the review.
The review is to be conducted in accordance with agreed Terms of Reference and Timeline which are available on the Council’s web site.
The review covers the whole borough and may consider one or more of the following:
- Creating, merging, altering or abolishing Town and Parish Councils;
- The naming of parishes and the style of new parishes;
- The electoral arrangements for parishes (the ordinary year of election; council size, the number of councillors to be elected to the council, and parish warding);
- Grouping parishes under a common parish council or de-grouping parishes.
If you would like to know more about the review, please www.brentwood. gov.uk or email cgr@brentwood.gov.uk