Terms of Reference

Agreed Terms of Reference

That a community governance review be carried out by Westminster City Council under the provisions of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (“the 2007 Act”). The review shall comply with the legislative requirements, have regard for the associated statutory guidance and will be conducted in accordance with these terms of reference.

As per the 2007 Act, Westminster City Council will take account of the necessary criteria when conducting the review, namely:

• The identities and interests of the community in an area; and

• The effective and convenient governance of the area.

In undertaking this review, Westminster City Council will be guided by Part 4 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 and the guidance on community governance reviews published by the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Electoral Commission in April 2008.

The review shall be of the community governance needs of the whole of the local authority area of Westminster City Council. This will include consideration of the proposals put forward in the petition for a community council in the Queen’s Park ward.

When carrying out the Community Governance Review, the council must also take into account other existing or potential community governance arrangements (other than those relating to parishes) in determining what parish arrangements to recommend. For the purposes of this review, these considerations will also include the new proposed governance arrangements under the Localism Bill; namely Neighbourhood Forums. The review will therefore consider the emerging relationship between neighbourhood forums and community councils.  

The review shall invite and take account of submissions from all interested parties and will undertake consultation work with residents and local bodies across Westminster. This may include advertising on the council website, advertising in local newspapers, presenting at area forums, holding stakeholder engagement events and issuing a written consultation. 

Following the review, the Cabinet and Full Council shall make recommendations as to:

• whether or not to establish new parishes, the name of any new parish and the styling (i.e. parish, community, neighbourhood or village) of any new parish;

• the electoral arrangements of any new parish council – including the ordinary year of election, warding and number of councillors.

Following the review the Cabinet may also wish to make recommendations as to:

• whether or not to introduce any new community governance arrangements other than those relating to parishes and parish councils.

The consultation period as to the creation of parish councils across Westminster will be dependent upon the legislative timetable of the Localism Bill. It is anticipated the consultation will start in the autumn with a view to concluding early 2012. Any representations on the review must be received by the advertised closing date or they will not be considered.

Please send any representation to Lucy Capron at Member Services, 18th Floor, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP.

The council intends to make people interested in the review aware of the outcome of any decisions taken in relation to the review and the reasons behind these decisions.

If the council recommends that parish/community councils be created in Westminster then it will adopt a reorganisation of community governance order. Copies of this order, a map showing the affected area and the final recommendations which set out the council’s reason for the decision will be deposited at council offices, on the website and at local contact points. The council will then inform and provide a copy of the order to the Secretary of State at the Department of Communities and Local Government and other designated bodies.