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Written question asked by Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour) on Monday, 16 July 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 July 2018 (named day). It was answered by Rishi Sunak (Conservative) on Thursday, 19 July 2018 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Local Government

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will assess the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to permit a parish or community council to be established covering an area that is continuous over two primary local authority areas.

Answer

The ability to create, amend or abolish parish and community councils was devolved to local government by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. Central Government therefore has no remit for involvement in such an issue.

However, as a local matter, the parties concerned should contact the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, which has powers to recommend boundary changes between principal local authorities, and consequential changes to parish arrangements to the Secretary of State. A review of this kind is known as a Principal Area Boundary Review (PABR).

The Commission’s current policy is that it would only agree to carry out a PABR if there was support from all authorities involved in the potential boundary change, that the proposal represented value for money for local taxpayers and there is evidence of public support for the proposition.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
164513
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Community councils Parish and town councils
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk