District wide Community Governance Review

Consultation - stage two

Three Rivers District Council is undertaking a Community Governance Review (CGR) to consider whether the current parish governance arrangements across the district continue to reflect the identities and interests of local communities and provide effective and convenient local government.

Following the first stage of consultation, the council has considered the feedback received from residents, parish councils and other interested parties, alongside the proposals discussed by the Policy and Resources Committee.

We are now inviting residents, businesses and community organisations to have their say on the proposals being considered as part of the second stage of the review. These include potential changes to parish boundaries, parish ward boundaries, ward names and governance arrangements in certain areas of the district.

The consultation provides an opportunity to comment on the proposed changes, suggest alternatives and share any additional information that the council should consider.

No final decisions have been made. The responses received during this consultation will help inform the council's final recommendations and ensure that any changes appropriately reflect the needs and identities of the communities they affect.

We encourage everyone with an interest in their local community to take part and have their say.

Please review the relevant proposals and accompanying maps before completing the consultation.

What is a Community Governance Review?

A Community Governance Review (CGR) looks at how town and parish councils are set up, whether any changes are needed, and if residents would support a parish council in unparished areas.

Why are we doing the Community Governance Review?

Three Rivers District Council has received a number of requests to consider changing existing parish arrangements. Chorleywood Parish Council has requested a change to the parish wards within the parish. Croxley Green Parish Council has requested parish boundaries to be reviewed with Sarratt Parish Council. Batchworth Community Council has requested to alter the number of councillors that sit on the council and consideration of name change status.

Three Rivers District Council would also like to ask residents in Maple Cross, West Hyde, Penn and Mill End if they want a parish council for all or part of the area, whether they would prefer to join an existing neighbouring parish council, or remain unparished.

This question is being raised now because of the creation of the new, larger South West Hertfordshire Unitary Council, which will replace Three Rivers District Council in April 2028. Once the unitary council is in place, parish councils will become the closest and most local tier of government for communities.

The review also gives Three Rivers residents a chance to say what changes, if any, they would like the council to consider before the next all-out parish elections in 2027. Elections for the new unitary authorities are also due to take place in the same year.

What the review can and cannot change

The review may consider the following options:

• Creating, merging, altering or abolishing parishes
• The naming of parishes and the style of parishes including the potential creation of town and parish councils
• The electoral arrangements for parishes. For instance, the ordinary year of elections; council size; the number of councillors to be elected to the council and parish warding
• Grouping parishes under a common parish council or de-grouping parishes
• Other types of local arrangements including parish meetings

The review cannot:

• Change the number of councillors on Three Rivers District Council
• Influence or change the amount of money that an existing parish or town council raises through Council Tax known as precept

You can find out more about the district wide Community Governance Review on our website.