Have your say on our community governance review

At its full council meeting on October 20, Dorset councilors agreed to carry out a new review of community governance for several of Dorset’s current parish and town councils, which have been removed for public consultation. They include the parishes forming Vale of Allen Parish Council, Winterborne Farringdon Parish Council as well as Chickerell Town Council and Weymouth Town Council.

In response to the agreement, Dorset Council is today launching an eight-week public consultation, allowing residents of scheduled areas and other interested parties to have their say on the most appropriate ways to represent them.

The consultation will run from November 1, 2022 to December 28, 2022 and will seek input from citizens on the proposals for the review. To have your say, please visit Community Governance Review – Weymouth and Surroundings and Vale of Allen – Dorset Council and follow the link.

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government recommends that principal councils undertake a review of their territory every 10 to 15 years.

Cllr Spencer Flower, leader of Dorset Council said:

“Following the establishment of Dorset Council, we spent a year undertaking a review to ensure that community governance arrangements in the Dorset Council area reflected the various parish and town councils and achieved electoral equality. During this review, important alternative proposals were put forward for certain areas. At the July plenary meeting, Board members supported the suggestion to undertake a separate, more focused review of the areas identified. This new revision was agreed at the October Plenary Council.

“We hope this will provide council with an opportunity to put in place strong and clearly defined boundaries, linked to community identity and connectedness, and to remove any parish boundary anomalies that may currently exist, while maintaining compliance with the Local Boundaries Commission. Tips.”

Residents and interested parties are invited to provide feedback on the proposed changes. There are three ways to have your say:

1. Take the online survey on Community Governance Review – Weymouth and Surroundings and Vale of Allen – Dorset Council
2. Pick up a hard copy from our libraries in Chickerell, Wyke Regis, Littlemoor or Weymouth Town Center (George Street)
3. Call us on 01305 221000 and a member of our customer services team will help you complete the survey over the phone

The largest council forming part of the review is Weymouth, for which two options are offered.

Option 1- The proposal follows the Dorset Council Ward boundaries by creating 13 Town Wards with 24 councillors. Option 1 includes taking parts of Chickerell and Bincombe at Weymouth. In Bincombe, a large development of 500 houses has recently obtained planning permission. Dorset Council welcomes views on proposed ward names.

Option 2 – Proposal following Dorset Council Ward boundaries creating 13 Town Wards with 24 councillors. Option 2 Is not include Chickerell’s stake in Weymouth, but include Bincombe’s stake in Weymouth. This is widely supported by the parishes forming Winterbourne Farringdon Parish Council. Dorset Council welcomes views on proposed ward names.

Details of the proposed options for the other parish wards which are also part of the review can be found at Community Governance Review – Weymouth and Surroundings and Vale of Allen – Dorset Council