A Community Governance Review (CGR) is a review carried out by a principal council of the whole or part of its area. The aim is to look at one or more of the following:
- The creation, merging or abolition of parishes
- The naming of parishes
- The style of parishes (e.g. town, village, community)
- The electoral arrangements for parishes (e.g. size of parish councils, number of councillors, warding arrangements)
District council wards and county council divisions cannot be altered in a Community Governance Order. However a request may be made to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to carry out a review for changes to district or county boundaries as a result of a local CGR.
Who can request a CGR?
A CGR can be initiated by one of the following:
- a valid petition from electors (minimum number of signatures required, depending upon size of electorate)
- Any petition must define the area to which the review is to relate and be signed by the following number of local government electors:
- Less than 500 electors - 50% of the electors
- 500-2,499 electors - at least 250 of the electors
- More than 2,500 - at least 10% of the electors
- and specify one or more recommendations which the petitioners wish that Community Governance Review to consider making.
- If valid petitions are received in respect of these parishes, the Council is required to undertake a (limited) Community Governance Review on the terms of that petition. The requirements for a valid petition ensure that any proposals must have both clear objectives and elector support.
- a formal request from a parish council or a local member (approval is then required from the principal council)
- a decision taken by the principal council itself if it feels a review is appropriate (e.g. the number of electors for a non-warded parish is too large and makes a single election impracticable, or the splitting of an existing parish, or the creation of a brand new parish following the completion of a major housing development)
The CGR Process
In Bassetlaw, the district council will undertake all CGRs by first publishing terms of reference, and then carrying out the required consultation(s) and recommending changes to be made. The review has to be completed within 12 months from the publication of the terms of reference.
Once the council has approved any recommendations as a result of the CGR and made an Order, any changes to the electoral arrangements such as amendments to the parish boundary or decrease/increase to the number of parish councillors will normally come into effect from the next main elections. The next scheduled local elections are May 2027.
Past Reviews
Community Governance Review 2014
The order was made on 28th November 2014. Notification is sent to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Local Government Boundary Commission for England, Office of National Statistics, Director General of the Ordnance Survey and Nottinghamshire County Council.
The final changes from the review were:-
- Amalgamation of Cuckney Parish Council and Norton Parish Meeting to form a new Parish Council called Norton and Cuckney Parish Council
- North and South Wheatley Parish Councils amalgamated to form a new Parish Council called North and South Wheatley Parish Council
- The removal of the Parish Wards of East and West Harworth within Harworth and Bircotes Town Council
- Reduction of the number of Parish Councillors in the Gamston, West Drayton and Eaton Parish Councils.
Copy of Order >> This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email customer.services@bassetlaw.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Community Governance Review 2017
The order was made 14 March 2018.
Change was Rampton Parish Council to become Rampton and Woodbeck Parish Council from 1 April 2018.
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Community Governance Review 2019
The order was made 28 March 2019.
Change was a reduction in the number of Councillors for Dunham-on-Trent with Ragnall, Fledborough and Darlton Parish Council.
Copy of Order >> This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email customer.services@bassetlaw.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Community Governance Review 2022
- That there be no change to the Parish Council boundary between Ranskill and Torworth in the area of Field View Gardens.
That the area defined by the Rippon Homes development at Blyth Road / Thievesdale Lane to be transferred from the Parish of Carlton in Lindrick to the unparished area of Worksop. Council notes that any final decision on this boundary will require the approval of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
That Holbeck and Welbeck Parish Council be merged with Cuckney & Norton Parish Council and to be renamed ‘Norton, Cuckney, Holbeck and Welbeck Parish Council’ and consist of 12 councillors.
That the number of Parish Councillors on Rampton and Woodbeck Parish Council be increased from 7 to 8.
That the number of Parish Councillors on Beckingham cum Saundby Parish Council not be reduced from 11 to 8.
Current Reviews
- The Council has commenced a Community Governance Review in response to a request from Beckingham cum Saundby Parish Council to review the number of parish councillors.
View the details of this review on our Elections page.
Last Updated on Monday, December 1, 2025