Community Governance Review
As a district council we are responsible for reviewing parish arrangements and implementing any appropriate changes to benefit the decision making and community management in the local area. We undertake a community governance review approximately every four years.
Upcoming reviews
2025 – 2026
The Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee met on Tuesday 13 January 2026 to discuss proposals submitted for the 2025-26 South Oxfordshire Community Governance Review. The agenda and minutes of the meeting are available here.
The Terms of Reference for the review was published on 26 February 2026 – document available here.
The survey link to take part in the initial consultation is available here. Please note that the initial consultation will close on 9 April 2026, with further consultation due to commence in May 2026.
What can a Community Governance Review do?
- alter the existing boundary of a parish
- create, merge or abolish parishes
- change the name of existing parishes
- amend the electoral arrangements for parishes (e.g. how many parish councillors are required and parish warding)
- group parishes under a common parish council, or de-group parishes
- alter the “style” of a parish (enabling an area to be known as a town, community, neighbourhood or village rather than a parish)
Historic reviews
2021 – 2022
- The Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee agreed final changes at the meeting on Tuesday 29 November 2022, with changes taking effect for the May 2023 elections.
Further Reading
- Department for Communities and Local Government: Guidance on Community Governance Reviews
- Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee
Contact us - Electoral services
01235 422422
(Text phone users add 18001 before dialling)
South Oxfordshire District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE
