Community Governance Review - Second 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).  We started a CGR across Wesmorland and Furness on 13 October 2025 and draft recommendations have been made.

The next stage is to consult on those draft recommendations.

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 second public consultation

The second public consultation lasts for twelve weeks, and closes on 22 April 2026. This consultation is an opportunity for residents, parish councils and community groups to make comments on the draft recommendations and whether they agree with those proposals.

At the end of this stage final recommendations will be drafted and agreed, and orders will then be published making any changes that are agreed.

Changes will come into force at the parish and town council elections in 2027.

What the review can and can’t change

This stage of the CGR is designed to consider the draft recommendation. We are looking for respondents to let us know whether they agree or not with those draft recommendations and why that is.

Whilst new proposals can be made in this part of the consultation, these are unlikely to result in new final recommendations, as they will not have been out to consultation.

Final recommendations will either be:

• • the draft recommendations as they are
  • the draft recommendations with some minor alterations, or,
  • the existing governance arrangements with no changes made

These recommendations will be made based on the responses to this consultation.

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.

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

Or you can post a response to: Westmorland and Furness, Electoral Services, South Lakeland House, Kendal LA9 4DQ.