Community Governance Review consultation

Overview

Westmorland and Furness Council is under a duty to keep parish governance arrangements under review and this is done through a Community Governance Review (CGR).  Previous CGRs were undertaken by former district councils and in some cases have not been reviewed in a number of years.

Now that the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) has completed its review of electoral arrangements for Westmorland and Furness, we have decided to conduct a CGR across the whole area of Westmorland and Furness. Conducting a CGR now ensures that any changes made can be brought in ahead of scheduled parish and town council elections in May 2027.

During a CGR we must consider whether governance arrangements are:

1. reflective of the identities of the community in that area; and
2. effective and convenient to the community in that area.

In doing so the review is required to take into account:

1. the impact of community governance arrangements on community cohesion; and
2. the size, population and boundaries of the local community or parish.

The first public consultation

The first public consultation lasts for eight weeks, and closes on 8 December 2025. This consultation is an open forum for residents, parish councils and community groups to make suggestions on the governance arrangements for their parish.

At the end of this stage, recommendations will be drafted, agreed and published, ahead of the second public consultation due to commence in January 2026.

What the review can and can’t change

The CGR can consider one or more of the following areas:

• creating, merging or abolishing parishes
• altering external parish boundaries, or internal ward boundaries
• the number of parish councillors
• parish names and alternative styles for parishes
• grouping parishes under a common parish council, or de-grouping parishes already grouped

The CGR will not consider:

• changes to any other electoral boundaries, i.e., parliamentary constituency, the local authority area, council ward boundaries
• changes to polling district boundaries, or the location of polling places

How to make a representation

You can complete the form below to let us know your views. Formal responses from parish councils or other organisations can be submitted via this form, as well as views from individuals.

There is an option to upload files, as well as completing the form.

You can also email us your representations, or any queries, to elections3@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.

Paper copies of the online form are available on request, and responses can be posted to us at: Westmorland and Furness, Electoral Services, South Lakeland House, Kendal LA9 4DQ.

Useful documents

Terms of Reference for this review

Government guidance on CGRs