Community Governance Review
As a district council we are responsible for reviewing parish arrangements and implementing any appropriate changes to benefit the decision making and community management in the local area. We undertake a community governance review approximately every ten years.
Current reviews
2026
The Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee (CGEIC) met on Thursday 12 March 2026 to discuss proposals submitted for the 2026 Vale of White Horse Community Governance Review. The agenda and minutes of the meeting are available here.
The Terms of Reference for the review was published on 26 March 2026.
The initial consultation survey closed on 7 May 2026. The results of the initial consultation were discussed and the proposals were reviewed at the CGEIC meeting on 28 May 2026, where the committee decided which proposals to take forward to the second stage of the consultation. The agenda and minutes of the meeting are available here.
You can now take part in the final round of consultation which runs from 11 June 2026 and closes at 11:59pm on Thursday 23 July 2026. The results of this consultation will be presented at the next CGEIC on 1 October 2026.
What can a Community Governance Review do?
- alter the existing boundary of a parish
- create, merge or abolish parishes
- change the name of existing parishes
- amend the electoral arrangements for parishes (e.g. how many parish councillors are required and parish warding)
- group parishes under a common parish council, or de-group parishes
- alter the “style” of a parish (enabling an area to be known as a town, community, neighbourhood or village rather than a parish)
Historic reviews
2021 – 2022
- The Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee agreed final changes at the meeting on Tuesday 6 December 2022, with changes taking effect for the May 2023 elections.
Further Reading
- Department for Communities and Local Government: Guidance on Community Governance Reviews
- Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee
Contact us - Electoral services
01235 422422
(Text phone users add 18001 before dialling)
Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE
