Consultation on new parish boundary recommendations approved by council

Article date: 13 July 2023

The draft recommendations of the Community Governance Review (CGR) made by its Cross-Party Working Group (CPWG) follow a period of extensive public consultation and engagement, considering changes to parish areas and governance, from simple boundary adjustments to mergers or the creation of new parish councils, and the number of parish councillors representing their electorate. 

Having reviewed previous consultation responses and the feedback from engagement with all seven parish councils, the draft recommendations propose various ward changes and boundary adjustments in Bold, Eccleston, Rainford, Rainhill and Windle parishes. 

No changes are proposed in either Billinge Chapel End Parish or Seneley Green Parish. 

View the draft recommendations in detail and proposed ward maps online at www.sthelens.gov.uk/CGR. 

Councillor Martin Bond, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said: 

"Parish councils can, when operating effectively, play an important role in terms of community governance and empowerment at a local level. CGRs provide the opportunity for principal councils to review and make changes to community governance within their areas. They may be undertaken when there have been changes in population, following a Boundary Commission review of warding patterns as in our case, or in response to specific or local new issues. 

"As intensive as this ongoing process has been for our cross-party working group and our parish councils, we will at its conclusion have thoroughly reviewed the governance arrangements of the existing local parish councils within our communities, ensuring fairness and equity for our residents. 

"I want to thank everyone for their diligent and continuing work on the CGR and all those who already shared their views, and invite residents and stakeholders to review and feedback on these draft recommendations, now approved by Council." 

Consultation on the draft recommendations will take place between 17 July and 9 October 2023, via an online or paper feedback form, by email to cgr@sthelens.gov.uk or in writing to Electoral Services, St Helens Borough Council, PO Box 512, St Helens, WA10 9JX. 

Households residing in parish areas where the draft recommendations propose significant changes to the community governance will receive a written communication outlining the details of the draft recommendations and a list of answers to frequently asked questions. 

For more information visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/CGR.