At its full council meeting on 20 October, Dorset Councillors agreed to carry out a further Community Governance Review for several of Dorset’s current parish and town councils, which were removed for public consultation. They include the parishes forming the Vale of Allen Parish Council, Winterborne Farringdon Parish Council plus Chickerell Town Council and Weymouth Town Council.
In response to this agreement Dorset Council is launching an eight-week public consultation today, allowing people living in the areas listed, and other interested parties, to have their say on the most suitable ways of representing them.
The consultation will run from 1 November 2022 until 28 December 2022, asking for people’s views on the proposals in the review. To have your say please visit Community Governance Review – Weymouth and surrounding areas and Vale of Allen – Dorset Council and follow the link.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government recommends that principal councils should undertake a review of its area every 10-15 years.
Cllr Spencer Flower, Leader of Dorset Council said:
“After Dorset Council was created, we spent a year undertaking a review to ensure community governance arrangements in the Dorset Council area were reflective of the various parish and town councils and achieve electoral equality. During this review, significant alternative proposals were put forward for certain areas. At the July Full Council members supported the suggestion to undertake a separate review more focussed review of those areas identified. This further review was agreed at the October Full Council.
“This will hopefully provide the council with an opportunity to put in place strong, clearly defined boundaries, linked to community identity and connectivity, and remove any parish boundary anomalies that may currently exist, whilst at the same time maintaining compliance with the Local Boundary Commission Guidance.”
Residents and interested parties are being asked to have their say on the proposed changes. There are three ways to have your say:
- Complete the online survey at Community Governance Review – Weymouth and surrounding areas and Vale of Allen – Dorset Council
- Pick up a paper copy from our libraries in Chickerell, Wyke Regis, Littlemoor or Weymouth Town Centre (George Street)
- Call us on 01305 221000 and one of our customer service team will help you complete the survey over the telephone
The biggest council forming part of the review is Weymouth, for which there are two proposed options.
Option 1– The proposal follows Dorset Council Ward boundaries creating 13 Town Wards with 24 Councillors. Option 1 includes taking parts of Chickerell and Bincombe into Weymouth. In Bincombe, a large development of 500 homes has recently been granted planning permission. Dorset Council welcomes views on the names of the proposed Wards.
Option 2 – Proposal following Dorset Council Ward boundaries creating 13 Town Wards with 24 Councillors. Option 2 does not include taking part of Chickerell into Weymouth but does include taking part of Bincombe into Weymouth. This is largely supported by the parishes forming Winterbourne Farringdon Parish Council. Dorset Council welcomes views on the names of the proposed Wards.
Details for the options proposed for the other parish wards which are also part of the review can be found at Community Governance Review – Weymouth and surrounding areas and Vale of Allen – Dorset Council
