- What is community governance?
- What is a community governance review?
- Who undertakes community governance reviews?
- What do ‘electoral arrangements’ mean?
- How much does a CGR cost?
- What are terms of reference?
- How long does a Community Governance Review take?
- What is a parish council?
- What is the difference between a parish council, a community council, a village council and a neighbourhood council?
- Is there not the option to create a Town Council?
- What can a parish council do?
- What relationship do parish councils have with local church parishes?
- What are the benefits of having a parish council?
- How are parish councils funded?
- Would having a parish council make a difference to my Council Tax?
- Is there a 'cap' on the amount a parish or community council can increase its precept by?
- Do businesses have to pay the precept?
- Are Parish Councillors paid an allowance?
- How many councillors would there be on any new parish or community council?
- Is there an ideal number of councillors for a parish council?
- When would the first election to any new parish council be?
- What is a ward?
- What is a historic charter?
- What are Charter Trustees?
- Why are we carrying out a CGR now?
- How can people have their say?
- Who is being consulted?
- What can local residents and community representatives add to this process?
- How will the options be judged?
- What is being proposed?
- Will the proposals change the current school catchment areas?
- Will the proposals change local elections in my area?
- Can alternative suggestions be made?
- When will any agreed changes take effect?
- How will this CGR affect local services in my area?
- What is a community governance order?
- How can I keep up to date with the progress of the review?
- Does there need to be a minimum amount of replies to the public consultation in order to allow the Council to progress with CGR?
1. What is community governance?
Community Governance is the way local communities are represented at local authority level. It is also the way individuals / groups within the community are listened to and able to influence decisions that affect them. Electors should be able to identify clearly with the parish in which they live. There is no right scale for a parish, but the general rule is that a parish should be based on an area which reflects community identity and interest, and which is of a size which is viable as an administrative unit.
2. What is a community governance review?
A community governance review (CGR) is the process to consider whether existing parish council arrangements should be changed in any way, or to consider introducing parishes where they don’t currently exist.
This can include:
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The creation of a parish area
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Separating an existing parish council
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The name of a parish council
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Altering boundaries of an existing parish areas
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Changes to the electoral arrangements (e.g. changing the number of councillors)
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Whether a parish should be grouped or de-grouped
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The dissolution of a parish council
When carrying out a CGR, the Borough Council should reject any proposals which it has reason to believe will act against the interests of either the local community or surrounding communities, particularly where the effect would be likely to damage community cohesion. It is also desirable that any new arrangements do not upset historic traditions but do reflect changes that have happened over time, such as population shift or additional development, which may have led to a different community identity.
We have the power to undertake such reviews under Part 4 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 and the relevant national guidance document.
3. Who undertakes community governance reviews?
Epsom and Ewell Borough Council is responsible for this within its electoral area.
4. What do ‘electoral arrangements’ mean?
An important part of a review involves considering electoral arrangements. The term covers the way in which a council is constituted for the parish. It covers the:
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ordinary year in which elections are held
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number of councillors to be elected to the council
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division (or not) of the parish into wards for the purpose of electing councillors
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number and boundaries of any such wards
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number of councillors to be elected for any such ward; and
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name of any such ward. The government’s guidance is that “each area should be considered on its own merits, having regard to its population, geography and the pattern of communities,” and therefore the council is prepared to pay particular attention to existing levels of representation on the Borough Council, and the broad pattern of existing council sizes which have stood the test of time.
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The number of parish or community councillors for each council must be not less than five but can be greater.
Every CGR is different. The costs would not be known until after a review has been completed. This can take up to 12 months. Epsom and Ewell Borough Council has an approved budget for this work and would bear the cost of any CGR.
6. What are terms of reference?
The council is required by law to draw up Terms of Reference for a Community Governance Review. As a minimum, the Terms of Reference must specify the area under review and be published. Terms of Reference can also include information such as the:
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purpose of the review
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issues that will be considered
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timetable and procedures to be followed.
The proposed Terms of Reference for the CGR can be read here.
7. How long does a Community Governance Review take?
The first stage consultation would take place between July and September 2025. The representations received during the first stage consultation would assist the Council to form the proposal direction and recommendations for Full Council (estimated to take place on 9 December 2025).
The proposed CGR timetable can be viewed in the Terms of Reference published on our website here.
A parish (or Community, Neighbourhood or Village – if an alternative name is chosen) council is made up of members who are elected every four years. It will have regular meetings to discuss issues which affect the area which members of the public can attend. The parish council will have a Chair and a Clerk, who implement decisions, provide independent advice and administrative support.
None. A parish council can be named or styled a parish council, a community council, a village council or a neighbourhood council. As part of the CGR we are asking residents to tell us, if they think a parish council(s) should be formed, what it should be called.
They have the same statutory powers and can provide the same services. The only differences are what they decide to be known as.
10. Is there not the option to create a Town Council?
A Town Council is not actually an option for CGRs.
In the past, the default position was that “Parish” councils were created, and the “Parish” could style itself “Town” by simple resolution. When the three alternative styles of “Village”, “Neighbourhood” and “Community” were added, the legislation was amended so that during a CGR the principal authority could use one of these alternative styles, which excludes the ability to style a new parish council as a “Town” straight away. If the new parish council wants to style itself “Town” then it still needs to do that by resolution once it has been created.
11. What can a parish council do?
Parish councils represent the interests of their community by providing services to meet local needs and improving the quality of life and community well-being.
Through an extensive range of discretionary powers, which they can choose to exercise, parish and community councils can provide, maintain and support a variety of important and visible services.
An example of those services include:
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allotments, parks and open spaces
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bus shelters and community transport schemes
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community centres and leisure facilities
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crime reduction and community safety measures
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festivals, celebrations and tourism activities
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litter bins, street lighting and street cleaning
12. What relationship do parish councils have with local church parishes?
Parish councils and church parishes are distinct entities, with parish councils being a civil local authority responsible for the governance of a civil parish, while church parishes are administrative units of the Church of England. While they may sometimes share the same geographical boundaries, they are not directly linked in any way.
13. What are the benefits of having a parish council?
Having a parish council can significantly benefit a community by enhancing local representation, improving services, and fostering development.
Some of the benefits of having a parish council include:
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community representation - they give residents a stronger voice in local affairs, ensuring their needs and preferences are directly addressed.
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focused development - they can drive community projects and initiatives tailored to local needs, such as environmental conservation or youth programmes.
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economic advantages - they can attract funding and grants unavailable to larger councils. They can also promote local businesses through initiatives and events, boosting the local economy.
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improved quality of life - they can work on projects that enhance the quality of life, such as creating green spaces, supporting local sports teams, and organising cultural events.
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greater accountability - they are closer to their residents, leading to more accountability and transparency in decision-making.
14. How are parish councils funded?
Parish councils are funded by a local government mechanism known as a precept. The precept is raised through a separate charge which would be added to your Council Tax bill and collected by a new Surrey Unitary Authority that covers the area of Epsom & Ewell on behalf of the parish council. The parish council will decide how much funding they need in order to provide services and facilities for the benefit of the community.
The amount you pay will depend on the size of the parish council, the number and type of services that it chooses to provide, the number of properties across which it is spread and the Council Tax Banding of your property. If new parish councils are created, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council will decide on the precept required for the first year.
15. Would having a parish council make a difference to my Council Tax?
If you live in an area where a new parish council is proposed then yes, the changes may make a difference to your council tax.
This is because parish councils are funded by a precept (as explained above). The creation of any new parish council would change the funding requirements. The council tax you pay would change, depending on the services the parish council wanted to provide.
It is hard to predict what the level of any precept will be in the future, but one of the effects of Local Government Reorganisation will be to remove the current two-tier system of borough and district councils and county councils and replace them with a unitary authority, so that in the future only one upper-tier precept will be charged.
16. Is there a 'cap' on the amount a parish or community council can increase its precept by?
No, the Government does not limit the amount a parish council can increase its precept by each year. Currently, borough councils are limited to a 3% increase each year and county councils 5%.
17. Do businesses have to pay the precept?
No, businesses are subject to business rates, which are calculated separately from Council Tax.
18. Are Parish Councillors paid an allowance?
Parish councillors are not usually paid an allowance but may incur costs which can be reimbursed.
19. How many councillors would there be on any new parish or community council?
The exact number of councillors that would be elected to any new parish council is not yet known, but there is a legal minimum of five. If it is recommended that a new parish council(s) is created, further details on the number of councillors will be set out in the draft recommendations published later this year.
20. Is there an ideal number of councillors for a parish council?
The legal minimum number of councillors is five. The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) considers this to be inconveniently small.
The number of councillors for a parish council would be decided following any CGR consultations.
The National Association of Local Councils provides the following guidance regarding the number of Parish/Community Councillors:
| Electors | Councillors |
| 1-900 | 7 |
| 901-1400 | 8 |
| 1401-2000 | 9 |
| 2001-2700 | 10 |
| 2701-3500 | 11 |
| 3501-4400 | 12 |
| 4401-5400 | 13 |
| 5401-6500 | 14 |
| 6501-7700 | 15 |
| 7701-9000 | 16 |
| 9001-10,400 | 17 |
| 10,401-11,900 | 18 |
| 11,901-13,500 | 19 |
| 13,501-15,200 | 20 |
| 15,201-17,000 | 21 |
| 17,001-18,900 | 22 |
| 18,901-20,900 | 23 |
| 20,901-23,000 | 24 |
| Over 23,000 | 25+ |
21. When would the first election to any new parish council be?
If created the first elections to any new parish council(s) would be in May 2027, with elections held every four years thereafter.
A ward is an administrative division of a city or borough that typically elects, and is represented by, a councillor or councillors. Epsom and Ewell Borough is currently split into 14 wards;
Cuddington, Auriol, Stoneleigh, Ewell Court, Ruxley, West Ewell, Ewell Village, Nonsuch, Horton, Court, Town, Stamford, College, and Woodcote and Langley Vale.
Your existing borough Councillors are elected on ward boundaries.
23. What is a historic charter?
A historic charter is a formal document, typically issued by a monarch or sovereign power, that grants specific rights, privileges, or powers to an individual, corporation, city, or other entity, outlining the conditions under which they are organised and operate.
Two historic charters were granted to Epsom and Ewell. One concerns the making of the Borough, and one concerns the Market. If parish councils are established, the market charter and civic regalia will be transferred either to the respective parish council or the new Surrey Unitary authority to ensure continuity.
24. What are Charter Trustees?
Charter Trustees are established to ensure the continuation of a town or city's charter after a district with borough or city status is abolished. The primary purpose of Charter Trustees is to ensure the preservation of civic, historic, and ceremonial traditions until a civil parish council or town council is established. Epsom and Ewell does not have either a Town or City charter.
25. Why are we carrying out a CGR now?
Epsom and Ewell Borough Council resolved on 26 June to undertake a Community Governance Review (CGR) under the provisions of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, to consider the creation of a parish council in all or part of the current area of the borough. This is consequential of Local Government Reorganisation which will see the formation of two or more unitary authorities for Surrey, and the abolition of the existing county council and the eleven district and borough councils within Surrey.
Once the eleven existing district and borough councils and the county council are dissolved in April 2027, there will be no lower tier of local government below that of the new unitary authority, in the borough.
26. How can people have their say?
Representations will be welcomed by the following methods:
- by completing an electronic survey on the consultation website.
- paper copies of the surveys can be collected from the Town Hall.
The Consultation start and end date will be provided soon.
The Consultation link will be added here once the consultation goes live.
The consultation is publicly available to any interested persons and groups in the affected area. This includes:
- local residents
- community groups
- businesses and local organisations
- neighbouring councils and the County Council
- local politicians – MP and councillors
- other stakeholders – this will include schools, hospitals, religious institutions and any community group that may be impacted.
28. What can local residents and community representatives add to this process?
Local residents and community representatives can add to this process by telling us:
- what they think governance arrangements in their area should look like, and
- whether any proposed changes would reflect community interests and promote cohesion and strong and inclusive local governance.
29. How will the options be judged?
Government guidance indicates that a good CGR should assess the options considering:
- effective engagement with the local community at neighbourhood level
- a sense of civic pride and civic values
- strong leadership
- a strong, inclusive community and voluntary sector
- a sense of place with a positive feeling for people and local distinctiveness
- the ability of local authorities to deliver quality services economically and efficiently in an area that is of that size
- Option 1 – Two community councils, one covering the east of the borough, and one covering the west. The West includes Ruxley, West Ewell, Court, Horton, Town, Stamford, and Woodcote and Langley Vale wards. The East includes Cuddington, Ewell Court, Auriol, Stoneleigh, Ewell Village, Nonsuch, and College wards.
- Option 2 - Two community councils, one covering the east of the borough, and one covering the west. The West includes Court, Horton, Town, Stamford, Woodcote and Langley Vale, and College wards. The East includes Cuddington, Ewell Court, Auriol, Ruxley, West Ewell, Stoneleigh, Ewell Village, and Nonsuch.
- Option 3 - Two community councils, one covering the east of the borough, and one covering the west. The West includes Cuddington, Ruxley, Auriol, Ewell Court, West Ewell, Court, and Horton wards. The East includes Stoneleigh, Nonsuch, Ewell Village, Town, College, Stamford, and Woodcote and Langley Vale wards.
- Option 4 – One community council covering the whole borough of Epsom and Ewell.
31. Will the proposals change the current school catchment areas?
No, these will remain the same and are set by Surrey County Council currently and will be set by the new Surrey unitary council after May 2027.
32. Will the proposals change local elections in my area?
The Borough Council will need to consider the governance of new parishes in the form of their electoral arrangements i.e. the number of councillors and how they are organised and elected. The minimum number of parish councillors allowed is five, but there is no upper limit. The Borough Council will therefore pay particular attention to existing levels of representation at borough level.
Each case should be considered on its merits, and on the quality of the information and evidence provided to the Borough Council during the course of the review.
When considering the electoral arrangements for a parish, whether it is warded or not, the Borough Council must also consider any change in the number or distribution of the electors which is likely to occur in the next five years.
33. Can alternative suggestions be made?
Yes, we want to hear your views.
These will be considered before any decisions are taken.
We must work within government guidelines by ensuring boundaries recognise natural communities.
34. When will any agreed changes take effect?
If changes are agreed, they would take effect following parish elections in May 2027.
35. How will this CGR affect local services in my area?
The convenience and quality of services provided at parish level is an important consideration. A CGR will need to consider how local services for new and existing residents would be shaped, and whether this would allow a parish council to deliver quality services and to represent the community’s interests effectively. It will be important to consider that users of parish services will have a democratic voice in the decisions that affect them, as well as a fair share of the costs.
36. What is a community governance order?
The review will be completed when the council adopts a Reorganisation of Community Governance Order. The Order will specify when it will take effect for financial and administrative purposes and when the electoral arrangements for a new parish council will come into force.
37. How can I keep up to date with the progress of the review?
You can keep up to date with the review by checking our website page dedicated to the review at: Community Governance Review – Epsom and Ewell Borough Council
We will publish up to date information, council reports and any recommendations throughout the process on our website.
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