We, the undersigned, urge BCP Council to defer any decision to introduce new parish or town councils in Bournemouth and Poole until after the next local elections in May 2027.

The current Community Governance Review is proposing further structural changes to local government, just a few years after the major reorganisation that formed BCP Council in 2019.

Creating a new layer of local government could bring far-reaching consequences, including:

* Higher council tax due to the addition of uncapped parish precepts;

* Increased bureaucracy and complexity in local governance;

* Division within communities over boundaries and representation; and

* Splitting of existing wards, disrupting current local ties.

There is also concern that the current administration has already indicated strong support for the proposals, undermining public confidence in what should be a fair and impartial review.

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Why This Matters

* The current consultation is non-binding and the final decision lies with councillors, many of whom have already publicly supported the proposals. This raises serious questions about the legitimacy of the process. Residents have been informed the consultation is being reviewed internally without independent oversight and therefore concerned about transparency. 

* A new CEO is due to take office at BCP Council in Aug/Sept 2025. It is only right to give the incoming leadership time to evaluate performance, stabilise services and implement improvements before any major governance changes are made.

* Most importantly, residents deserve a meaningful say. By delaying any decision until after the May 2027 local elections, the issue can be openly debated as part of the democratic process, giving voters the power to decide through the ballot box.

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What We’re Asking

We respectfully petition BCP Council to:

Postpone any decisions on the implementation of new parish or town councils until after the 2027 local elections.

This delay will help ensure:

* Transparency in the consultation process;

* Organisational stability during leadership transition; and

* A democratic mandate that reflects the will of the people.

Let’s make sure that any structural changes to local government are grounded in public consent, not just procedural compliance.