Community Governance Review of the unparished urban area of Guildford - July 2025
The Community Governance Review (CGR) to consider community empowerment and community governance options for the unparished urban area of Guildford is now closed. Consultation (1) took place between 5 August and 28 September 2025. The urban area of Guildford is the only part of our borough without formal community governance, meaning it doesn't have a parish or town council.
What we consulted on?
We asked for your view on the options below:
- No change option: Await the formation of a new Unitary Authority (UA) which may wish to consider community empowerment or community governance options.
- Community empowerment option: Establish a Neighbourhood Area Committee (NAC) for the unparished urban area of Guildford.
- Community governance option: Create one or more new parish councils for the unparished urban area of Guildford.
What happens next?
The outcome of this Community Governance Review will affect these ten wards:
- Bellfields and Slyfield
- Burpham, Castle
- Merrow
- Onslow
- St Nicolas, Stoke
- Stoughton North
- Stoughton South
- Westborough
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 29 September to 15 November 2025 | Evaluation and consideration of responses and formulation of draft recommendations |
| 9 December 2025 | Based upon outcome(s) of consultation (1), Full Council to consider whether to publish draft recommendations as to the future governance arrangements for the unparished area of Guildford. |
| 19 January 2026 - 21 March 2026 | Subject to approval above, further public consultation (2) on the Draft Recommendations. If these are for a new parish council(s) these would include a year one budget, precept, and electoral arrangements |
| 21 March 2026 - 8 May 2026 | Pause for Shadow Unitary Authority Regulated Election period |
| 11 May to 30 June 2026 | Evaluation and consideration of responses and formulation of final recommendations |
| July 2026 | Final recommendations to be considered by the Full Council |
| August to September 2026 | Reorganisation Order made (if applicable) |
| May 2027 | Parish council elections to be held under any new arrangements that may be decided (if applicable) |