Community Governance Review 2019

Test Valley Borough Council has now completed a community governance review. The Test Valley (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2018 sets out the changes made as a result of the review. The order is available here. 

The changes to parish boundaries take effect on 1 April 2019, with warding changes taking effect on the elections on 2 May 2019. 

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has made the Test Valley (Electoral Changes) Order 2019, which makes “related alterations” to the boundaries of Borough Wards and County Divisions, as a consequence of the changes made under the review.

Background

The review looked at parish arrangements in the Borough, including in particular the boundaries of parishes, electoral arrangements (including warding), and grouping of parishes.

Two rounds of consultation were carried out, resulting in a set of final recommendations for changes to existing parish arrangements being agreed by full Council on 5 September 2018.

Following the agreement of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, the Council decided to give effect to all of these final recommendations. As a result, the Test Valley (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2018 was made. The Order and accompanying maps are available here.

Following the making of the Reorganisation Order, a separate submission was made to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, recommending that a number of “related alterations” to Borough Ward and County Division boundaries to reflect the changes made under the Community Governance Review. These recommendations were accepted and given effect under the Test Valley (Electoral Changes) Order 2019, available here.

 

The aim of the review was to ensure that community governance (i.e. parish) arrangements in Test Valley reflect the identities and interests of the borough’s communities, and are effective and convenient.

The terms of reference for the Review, and other relevant documents, are available to download under Part twelve: Useful documents