Agenda item

To receive a report on the responses submitted during the Phase 2 consultation which closed on 14 July 2025.

The Director: Policy & Governance presented the Community Governance Review (CGR) report, which updated the Committee on the representations received throughout the second phase of consultation on the Community Governance Review and sought approval for an amended timetable to bring the review to a conclusion.

The Committee was provided with an update on the current CGR and the steps taken throughout the consultation to canvass views on the proposals next steps would be.

Members were reminded that the CGR commenced on 17 February 2025 with the closing date for the first round of consultation being extended to 14 April 2025.  It was noted that this was a borough wide review, and everyone was invited to submit their views on what Town and Parish arrangements should look like in the future. The consultation pack was published online and circulated to all Town and Parish Councils, SALC and others. It was then agreed by the committee at the meeting on 12 May 2025 for the second consultation process to take place starting on 19 May 2025 until 14 July 2025.  This consultation received over 1,000 responses.

In order to get the most engagement as possible, officers followed several different processes to reach as many people as they could. Officers wrote to 3,000 community groups and Town & Parish Councils. Adverts were running in leisure centres across the borough; social media posts went out reaching 10,570 people. It was also on the Council’s website, in the local press and seven drop-in sessions had been organised over seven different locations to provide more information.

More than 1,000 submissions had been received with almost all Town & Parish Councils making a submission. Some submissions covered more than one proposed area.

The Director: Policy & Governance then discussed the next steps and confirmed that a meeting had been scheduled for 4 September to receive the final proposals for consideration. After a decision had been made, the ‘new councils’ would then start to form from April 2026. A checklist had been prepared from the Council’s Legal Services to ensure any changes such as employment related matters, precept-related matters and assets were covered.

The Committee thanked officers for all their hard work and expressed their appreciation to be given more time to read all submissions before the final proposals were presented.

It was noted that while many comments were constructive and offered thoughtful suggestions, assumptions should not be made about non-responses indicating support. Concerns were raised about proposals potentially affecting community identity, particularly in areas like Little Wenlock, Wrockwardine, Waters Upton, and the Weald Moors. Emphasis was placed on ensuring proposals reflected local identities, as outlined in paragraph 52 of the guidance. Members expressed interest in meeting with officers to better understand the reasoning behind proposals and ensure decisions were resident focused.

Officers confirmed the consultation process was designed to be fair and transparent, with all information made accessible and queries addressed. While some Town and Parish Councils had actively campaigned, officers assured members that efforts had been made to maintain impartiality. Mixed responses had been received across various areas, with some communities expressing strong opposition to proposed mergers. Members commended the consultation efforts and agreed that further meetings would be beneficial to ensure all feedback was properly considered before final recommendations were made.