Community Governance Review – Ansford and Castle Cary

Overview

Somerset Council has launched a Community Governance Review (CGR) for the parishes of Ansford and Castle Cary, following petitions from local electors.

This review is proposing the dissolution of the two parishes and a creation a new parish covering both areas.

The aim of the review is to ensure that parish governance arrangements:

• Reflect the identities and interests of the local community.
• Are effective, convenient, and promote community cohesion.

The review will consider:

• Creating, merging, altering, or abolishing parishes.
• Naming and styling of any new parish(es).
• Electoral arrangements, including the number of councillors, warding, and election years.
• Grouping or de-grouping parishes under a common parish council.

We are seeking your views on:

• Whether or not you support the proposal.
• If the proposal is approved, whether the new parish should be divided into wards.
• If the proposal is not approved, whether the existing boundary between the two parishes should be amended.
• If the proposal is approved and wards are created, whether the existing boundary should be amended.

This review was prompted by petitions requesting the abolition of Ansford Parish Council and Castle Cary Town Council, and the creation of a single parish covering the same geographical area. The council may also consider warding and the number of councillors for the new parish.

Somerset Council, as the principal authority, will oversee the review and approve the final recommendations. The Constitution and Governance Committee will consider the matter and refer it to Full Council for a final decision.

Initial comments are now invited to help gauge local support.

This map highlights the two areas being consulted on.