Community Governance Review stage one consultation questions
This page features questions asked at the consultation sessions held in Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay and online.
These questions come from residents, councillors and parish clerks.
General
Will the slides from the consultation events be published?
Yes, the slides and a recording of the presentation delivered are available at these links:
CGR presentation slides
CGR online consultation event – 21 May 2026
Do groups, such as the Canterbury Society, have greater weight in their responses than individual responses?
All responses are important, and we want to hear from all individuals and groups who have a view. A response from a group does not automatically get greater weight, because we want to understand the details that individuals can tell us – not just that a group represents a lot of people – as their views may differ. We will acknowledge responses from bodies such as parish councils who are accountable to their residents, but we are encouraging everyone to make their points so we can understand what you think.
“Effective and convenient” – is this a legal term with implications that need to be adhered to?
Yes. “Effective and convenient” is a legal term. In deciding the Final Recommendations, the Council must ensure that community governance reflects the identities and interests of the local community, and is effective and convenient. The government has published guidance on this to support the legal terms.
Is the choice for local governance binary, or are there other options such as Community Interest Companies?
There are a range of possible options available, including town/parish councils, area committees, a number of different types of associations, or nothing at all. These are listed in the government guidance. However, while CICs can play an important role in supporting communities and delivering services, they are not a recognised form of community governance.
Once 5 July has passed, are we still able to submit proposals?
No, once the Stage 1 consultation has closed we will need time to analyse the responses and decide what recommendations to put forward for Stage 2 consultation.
Assets
Canterbury City Council owns historic buildings, the harbour, art etc… would those assets pass to the new town council? There’s a possibility of them being sold by the unitary if they’re not passed down. Who will decide what happens?
There are no plans to include asset transfer in the review.
If (it is if) new town councils are created they will not come into effect until 1 April 2028, which is the same date the unitary authority takes control of the area.
Decisions will, therefore, sit with the unitary authority about how assets should be managed in the future.
Kent County Council has been transferring assets. What would stop Canterbury City Council from transferring its assets before unitary authority comes into being?
Requests to transfer assets are being dealt with in accordance with existing policy.
Our external auditors have been clear that there should be no ‘fire sale’ and they will be monitoring our activity.
What will happen to assets that are managed or owned by Canterbury City Council today?
They will transfer to the new unitary authority.
Can anything be done ahead of time to protect those assets from the unitary authority?
Existing protections will remain in place and carry forward to the new authority.
What happens with parish assets, do they just go to unitary authority?
No – assets owned by an existing parish council will remain with the parish council.
If an existing parish council comes forward with a proposal to take on CCC assets it will be considered on its merits in line with our existing policies.
Working group
What is the role of the working group?
The role of the working group is to deliberate on the findings of the consultation and gain a more in-depth understanding of the CGR process. They will make recommendations to the General Purposes Committee, which is a public committee at which members of the public can speak.
Will you publicise the working group’s papers?
That has yet to be determined but we are aware of our duties under the Freedom of Information Act.
The working group seems to be doing the same work as the General Purposes Committee. What is the difference between them?
The working group will be able to meet several times to consider the detailed findings and prepare draft recommendations.
It is not practicable to do the kind of detailed analysis required in a public committee meeting.
Will the working group be taking minutes?
Yes.
A small group of residents are going to send their ideas to the small working group, whose recommendations will be sent to another small group to act on. This seems backwards and lacks representation of the community. How will this work?
The recommendations of the committee will be put to Full Council, which is a meeting of all councillors.
Those recommendations will be the subject of a further round of consultation to ensure the voices of residents are heard.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Why is Local Government Reorganisation happening? What are the main reasons for it?
LGR is a structural shake-up in England that abolishes the two-tier system of separate county and district councils, merging them into single-tier unitary authorities.
It is designed to bring the delivery of services together under one council and unlock greater devolution powers from the central government.
Is LGR expected to proceed in July?
We expect an announcement in July from the government minister on the proposed boundaries for the new unitary authorities in Kent.
That will be followed by elections to a shadow unitary authority in May 2027, with full powers transferring in April 2028.
Will the role of parish and town councillors change following LGR, and will they take on more responsibilities?
No, parish council arrangements are not affected by LGR.
They will continue as the lowest and most local tier of local government and build relationships with the new unitary authority.
Responses, stage 1 and stage 2
How do you see the distinction between the two phases for unparished areas? There is seemingly only one question: should there be a town council?
While we are considering whether the unparished towns should be served by a town council, the review as a whole is also looking at the existing parish areas.
In Stage 1, we want to hear from local people about your communities – where they are, how they fit together and whether you think they would benefit from a form of local governance such as a town or parish council.
For existing parish areas we want to know if the current arrangements are still working effectively or if changes are needed.
In Stage 2, Canterbury City Council will publish specific proposals and ask residents and parish councils if they support them or not, and why they feel that way.
Stage 1 is very open and broad. Stage 2 will be very specific.
What responses are you looking for in Stage 1 and Stage 2? Residents need the questionnaire to be available before people start asking questions.
In Stage 1, we want to hear from local people about your communities – where they are, how they fit together and whether you think they would benefit from a form of local governance such as a town or parish council.
For existing parish areas we want to know if the current arrangements are still working effectively or if changes are needed.
In Stage 2, Canterbury City Council will publish specific proposals and ask residents and parish councils if they support them or not, and why they feel that way.
When Stage 2 starts, the consultation questions will be based on the draft recommendations and so will be available before someone clicks to start the consultation form.
The volume of response to the previous CGR in Whitstable was large. If you’re accepting any answer at either stage – are you going to carry responses from Stage 1 to Stage 2?
We want to hear from people at both stages of the consultation process, as the questions are different.
Where a view is expressed at Stage 1, councillors will take that into account when developing the draft and final recommendations.
Will there be a referendum on the final decision regarding the community governance review?
No. The council is the decision-making body and is required by law to consult with local people – which they are doing.
The responses to the consultation will be taken into account in developing the draft and the final recommendations.
There is no provision in law to create a binding referendum on the outcomes of the review.
I’m perturbed by idea of these consultations. What do you think this initial level of response involvement will be, can you quantify it?
These are consultations, not referendums, and therefore it would not be appropriate to set a threshold at this time.
However, given the broad nature of Stage 1 we would expect fewer responses at this stage.
Stage 2 is where will ask about specific proposals, with direct communication to affected residents, and so we would expect more responses then.
The second stage, by its nature, is easier for people to engage with and respond to.
The form asks for where you are (in a parished or unparished area) – Whitstable could have five parishes, so to what extent is it legitimate for me living in Gorrell to talk about Swalecliffe and make a submission on it?
We are very happy for residents to tell us about the areas they have local knowledge of and interest in. Suggestions to create one, two, or five separate parishes for an area will all be welcomed and considered (if submitted).
For anything to be on the table for decision, must it be proposed by someone in stage 1?
Yes. While changes can – and will – be made to Draft Recommendations as a result of the Stage 2 consultation, we cannot introduce entirely new ideas at the end of the review without having consulted upon them first.
In stage 1, do we have to put forward a fully set out plan, or can we put forward multiple options we’re not sure of, nor know the details of (to then deliberate upon during stage 2)?
This question was in relation to existing parish councils and how they may integrate with others.
We would prefer a single submission, setting out the preferred option, although you are welcome to list alternatives in that submission.
The council will decide which option they think is most appropriate, and may well give a range of options at Stage 2 if that is the best way to find out local views.
Precept
As the initial precept is set by Canterbury City Council, will it be on the lower end for (potentially) newly created parishes in Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay?
If a new town council is created, it will take effect from April 2028.
In late 2027, a new ‘shadow town council’ will be formed – this will be the elected representatives for that area from Canterbury City Council and the new unitary shadow authority.
The shadow town council will set the first precept. The new town council will then have responsibility for setting the precept in future years.
When setting the precept, councils will take into account the cost of services being provided.
Can you confirm whether most town councils increase precepts above inflation?
No, we do not have figures on the average increase in council tax by town councils.
We can say that they are not capped in the way that Kent County Council and Canterbury City Council are capped.
This means they do not have to hold a referendum if they wish to exceed their cap, but town councillors would be accountable to the electorate for their decisions.
Why are Band D properties always used as an example for the average precept?
This is a standard way of comparing council tax costs and precepts, used by all councils.
Other council tax bands are calculated from the band D cost. We recognise that individual household costs may be higher (if band E or above) or lower (if bands A to C, or on a Council Tax reduction scheme).
Could the precept not also come down? It seems it’s up to the community to set the precept and council would have to listen to it.
Technically yes, it is up to the council to decide how much money it needs to raise to deliver services on behalf of residents.
The norm is that the precept increases to reflect inflationary costs and deliver the priorities of those elected.
Can the parish or town council precept increase significantly from one year to the next?
It can, for the reasons explained above.
When we go to shadow unitary level, will we have to make a submission to get concurrent function funding (CFF) from the unitary? This is a complex issue for small parishes that have never had to submit for it before.
Canterbury City Council has committed to funding CFF until it is abolished. The new unitary authority will be responsible for setting its own budget from April 2028 so there can be no guarantees about future funding.
Would precepts remain the same among grouped parishes? i.e. each parish still has their own precept despite being in a group?
Yes, the precepts and expenditure are expected to be kept separate among grouped parishes.
Town/parish councils
Will the powers of town/parish councils be amended as part of the reorganisation?
No, the powers are set out in legislation and cannot be amended by Canterbury City Council.
I’m horrified with the term SUPER town council. Is this to do with geographic size, population, etc? It comes across as just another confusing layer.
There is no such thing as a super town council, although they may have been described as such if they cover a large area or population.
Their powers are the same and their ability to do things is just the same as a smaller town council, although clearly if more money is raised it can affect the range of services they deliver.
How do parishes go about talking to councillors about the CGR?
Contact details are available on our website.
Councillors voted for the CGR to find out what you think so you are encouraged to have the debate with them as they will make the final decisions.
Do parish councils need to consult with their residents about the CGR?
It is up to parish councils to decide. There is no requirement to do so but some might decide to canvass opinion before responding to the consultation.
However, we do want to hear from individual residents – please do not undertake a big consultation, as we will be doing that both now and in Stage 2.
Will the newly created parish be an automatic statutory consultee for planning?
Yes they will automatically become a statutory consultee for planning applications in their area.
In the event of no town council being created, would Swalecliffe and Seasalter not be represented individually? Does this not diminish democracy?
They will be represented by their unitary authority councillors in the future, which is similar to the representation they have now from Kent County Council and Canterbury City Council under the two-tier system.
What are the other statutory powers of a parish/town council? Allotments aren’t exciting, is there anything more exciting?
Most services provided by parish councils are optional, but they have a wide range of services they can choose to provide.
That reflects the wide variety of different parishes, from very small rural communities of less than 100 residents, up to very large towns with many thousands of residents. Parish/town councils also have a role in representing local communities and responding to planning consultations.
Who makes the final decision on the reorganisation of parish councils?
The intention is that Canterbury City Council will make the final decisions, although the LGR programme may influence how the final decision is taken.
Depending on the timing of the decision it is possible that Canterbury City Council’s decision might have to be ratified by the shadow unitary authority before the Order can be made.
Services might vary, so is there a commitment by every unitary authority to an agreed provision of certain services?
Each town and parish council can decide what services they will provide.
Each unitary authority must provide certain services – those currently provided by Canterbury City Council and Kent County Council.
Within those services, many are legally required, with a few discretionary, or optional, services. The level of service provided may differ between councils.
Parish councils
What factors will you consider in making proposals on coverage of parish councils?
The government guidance sets out some of the rules that Canterbury City Council must follow.
Do you know whether, when the new unitary councils come in, there will be channels for parish councils to approach them? The current issue is always trying to work out who between Canterbury City Council and Kent County Council is responsible.
Once the new unitary authority is in place, there will be no confusion between whether it is Canterbury City Council or Kent County Council – it will all be the new unitary authority.
They should implement ways to engage with parish councils, but how they do that will be up to them.
Will those shadow unitary representatives attend our parish council meetings? Recently Kent County Council reps have almost never attended our meetings.
That will be a decision for the new unitary authority and the individual councillors to make, taking into account the breadth of their workload and number of parish councils within their remit.
Where do town councils get their funding, apart from the parish precept?
Town councils can get income from a range of sources:
- the parish precept (the part of the council tax that goes to the parish council)
- charging fees for services they provide (such as room hire at a building they own)
- grants and awards from other organisations (such as a grant to develop a new play area, or to maintain a building)
If we have a town council, regarding planning terms with farmland to be built on, would we have a stronger voice with a town council than without one?
The town council would be a statutory consultee on planning applications affecting their area. Their representations would be taken into account by the Planning Authority, who take the final decision.
Is there a possibility for an outcome of the CGR to be an arrangement such as a Canterbury North Town Council and a Canterbury South Town Council?
Yes – we want to hear from local people about what arrangements would work best for you and your community. Where there are distinctly different communities, they can be served by different councils; or a single council can represent several different groups. Both options are possible, which is why we need to know what local people think.
Tourism seems to be falling through the gap, it’s not quite a unitary responsibility and not quite a parish responsibility, who would oversee it?
This is an example of where discretionary services could be delivered by the unitary authority or a town council. They might decide to work together or deliver complementary services depending on the budget available. Other factors play a part, such as what services are already being provided by other organisations locally.
Merging, groupings and boundaries
Can an existing parish be made to expand its boundary?
The final decision of the CGR is made by Full Council of CCC, after consultation with local people and existing parish councils. Where the final recommendation is to change an existing boundary, this can be done even if one of the affected parish councils does not support the change.
Can residents propose merging existing parishes into a larger town council?
Yes – we welcome all responses. If residents feel they would be better and more effectively represented by one larger parish, then we would like to hear that suggestion in Stage 1 (with reasons why). It is useful if these suggestions come from the parish councils themselves, too.
London Road Estate is unparished…if the rest of, say, Westgate ward was minded to be part of town council but London Road Estate didn’t want to be, could they be made to join a bordering parish council or could they be a small, unparished island?
All options are available, and we want to hear from local people about what they feel would be best for them and their community. Canterbury City Council will need to ensure the final recommendations lead to effective and convenient local government, as well as representing the identities and interests of the local community.
We don’t know where boundaries will lie for the unitary, how will people know where the town council boundaries will be?
By the time we reach Stage 2, with specific proposals, we anticipate that the unitary authority boundaries will have been announced by the government.
Canterbury South strays into unparished area, and Canterbury North into Blean. These divisions don’t line up, how are you going to manage this?
We want to hear from local people and existing parish councils, to help us understand the communities in these areas. Based on consultation responses, the council will develop proposals and invite affected residents to tell us if they agree with them or not.
Half of Wincheap is in Thanington parish, the other half is in the city and so is unparished, but both are in CT South Division, so the parished part could therefore, hypothetically, not be parished if a decision were reached that CT South would be an unparished area, and CT North created a new Parish Council?
It is possible for a new unitary authority ward to include both parishes and unparished communities.
Boundaries of wards are based on district council boundaries, is this true?
Any new town council wards will be based on where local communities are, to reflect their identities and interests. Town council wards are unlikely to extend across a County Division (new unitary authority ward).
Can the CGR facilitate a parish wanting to merge with a parish outside of the district?
No – a CGR can only look at changes within the CCC area.
Who pays the costs of the merger of parishes?
The costs associated with merging parishes would be expected to be covered by the affected parish councils.
Smaller parishes have the potential to be overlooked by a unitary authority. Is it in our benefit to join together to have a greater voice?
That is a discussion that parish councils will need to explore with their neighbouring parish councils and KALC. CCC is not able to advise or suggest a view.
Could one parish bite a chunk off an unparished area?
If that reflects the interests and identities of local communities, and leads to effective and convenient local government, then it is possible for parts of one parish to become part of another – following consultation.
If this is something that you would like CCC to consider, please give details through the Stage 1 consultation.
Could parishes group together for some purposes but not others, to retain some sense of individual identity?
If parish councils merge or group, they become merged (or grouped) for all purposes. If they group, the parishes remain within the group; if they merge then parish wards can be put in place; both help retain local individual identity.
The university is surrounded by three parishes, how would the taking over of it work as it has such a small population (voting-wise)? How would timing work, students are also very unlikely to respond to consultation.
We want to hear from you about how the university fits within the parishes in terms of identity and interests. CCC will then be able to consider this as part of the review.
Elections
How do elections for new parish/town councils work?
The first elections for any new parish/town council will take place in May 2028 following a usual ‘first past the post’ election. Local residents are able to stand for election in their parish.
Can businesspeople stand for election? Can anyone who’s interested stand?
Unless disqualified by other rules, you can stand for election in a parish council if you live in the parish (or within 5km of the boundary), and/or are a registered elector in the parish, and/or own land or property in the parish, and/or work in the parish.
You must also be eligible (by grounds of nationality and age).
Is there any limit to number of people who can stand for election?
No – anyone eligible can stand for election.
Can political parties fund campaigns for town council elections?
Yes. Most parish councils are not political, but candidates may be endorsed by a political party in line with Electoral Commission rules.
Council tax
Could you provide more info on the website on the new council tax discount scheme. If some numbers could be provided across the districts where the areas of new scheme are, that would be helpful.
Information about council tax discounts and exemptions can be found on the council’s website. We have not published information describing what impact this might have on individual areas as it is subject to constant change.
Outreach, comms and social media
The info sessions have been frontloaded. Will there be more later (i.e. June/July) for those that may be joining into discussions late?
There will be more detail provided to potentially affected households in Stage 2, where specific proposals are open to consultation.
Leaflets going out at Stage 2 seems too late, people might change their minds after being more educated and involved by that stage of the process. Is it not worth bringing them out sooner?
There will be more detail provided to potentially affected households in Stage 2, where specific proposals are open to consultation.
A lot of noise around Canterbury City Council on socials. Assuming only responses to this weblink will count in review, is there going to be a proactive and consistent response from the council on all the social media threads to click the link and formally submit their views?
You are encouraged to complete the survey form, which includes an option to add additional information if you wish to. We will also accept representations by email (please send to cgr@canterburygov.uk) or by letter, addressed to CCC, 14 Rose Lane, Canterbury CT1 2UR.
How will Canterbury City Council get through to people not on social media/online?
We are running in-person events and displaying posters in public areas. We are encouraging councillors, parish councils and community groups to spread the word in their own areas.
How will those who aren’t online know to get in contact with the council to request paper copies of survey?
They can phone, write in or request a copy at the CCC reception desk and we will respond.
Will the council be in contact with newspapers to promote the CGR?
Press releases have been shared with local media.
Why can’t existing council databases be used for consultation outreach without breaking GDPR rules?
Anyone who signs up to receive our consultation material about governance will have received an alert, but we will not repurpose addresses gathered for other purposes to notify people.
How can residents opt in to receive information about consultations?
Residents can sign up to receive updates by visiting the council’s consultation page and clicking on “Sign up to hear about consultations”.
Alternatively, they can sign up directly.
Will drop-in sessions be available to help people access information and complete forms?
No, but if you are having difficulty completing the form please email cgr@canterbury.gov.uk and we will answer your questions.
This is a very complex process and requires understanding and engagement from residents, will you be handing out a simple, easy to understand leaflet to break down and explain what is happening?
Yes, for Stage 2.
There will be more detail provided to potentially affected households in Stage 2, where specific proposals are open to consultation.
The intention is that the leaflet will be very clear about what is proposed in your area and how you can have your say, making it much easier for people to respond without needing any background knowledge or other information.
Is leaving the leaflet to Stage 2 not too late?
No.
There will be more detail provided to potentially affected households in Stage 2, where specific proposals are open to consultation.
Town/parish council naming
Have any town/parish councils used the term ‘Community council’? This would be a much better reflection of our area.
The final name of any new town councils will be decided by CCC. Respondents are very welcome to suggest names at this stage.
Should we use the term city council rather than town/parish council? People don’t want to lose the mark of ‘city’ in the town – might it be worth mentioning city status in cards to trustees.
The final name of any new town councils will be decided by CCC. At this stage, the word ‘city’ has not been used to avoid confusion with the current CCC name.
Published: 16 June 2026