Parish Councillor numbers review - PCNO

We have been asked by Begbroke Parish Council, Chesterton Parish Council and Somerton Parish Council to consider changing the number of parish councillors they have.

What are the rules about Parish Councillor numbers? 

The legal minimum number of parish councillors for each parish council is five. Apart from this minimum number, there is no further requirement for the number of parish councillors to be proportionate to the electorate size.

Each area should be considered on its own merits, taking into account the broad pattern of existing council sizes. For rural parish councils in Cherwell the average number of parish councillors is seven.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) published guidance in 1988 that suggested the following, based on the electorate of each parish:

The Aston Business School carried out research that was published in 1992, which found that actual levels of representation were as follows:

Begbroke Parish Council – increase from six parish councillors to seven

Begbroke Parish Council have asked that their number of parish councillors be increased. They currently have six, but would like this increased to seven. 

The Parish Council have made this request due to the potential increase in housing in the area, and to give them more resilience if Councillors are unable to attend meetings, for example due to personal circumstances or illness.  

Begbroke Parish Council last held elections in 2019, when there were five candidates for six vacancies. The parish council filled the remaining vacancy in June 2019, and since then have had one parish councillor resign in September 2021. As of November 2021, this vacancy has not yet been filled. 

The electorate for Begbroke Parish as at 1 December 2020 (annual publication of the new Electoral Register) was 644. 

Chesterton Parish Council – increase from seven parish councillors

Chesterton Parish Council have asked that their number of parish councillors be increased. They currently have seven, but would like this increased to at least eight parish councillors, with the exact number to be considered as part of this review. The Parish Council have made this request due to an increase in workload as a result of several major developments in the parish, including the Great Wolf Resort and development around Himley Village. 

Chesterton Parish Council last held elections in 2019, when there were seven candidates for seven vacancies. Three resignations have occurred since then, two in March 2020 and one in July 2021. All three vacancies been filled. 

The electorate for Chesterton Parish as at 1 December 2020 (annual publication of the new Electoral Register) was 825. 

The Chesterton parish boundaries are also being reviewed during this Community Governance Review. The details can be found in separate documents which are available via our website www.cherwell.gov.uk/communitygovernance or on request to the Democratic and Elections Team democracy@cherwell-dc.gov.uk. 

Somerton Parish Council – increase from five parish councillors to six

Somerton Parish Council have asked that their number of parish councillors be increased. They currently have five, but would like this increased to six. 

The Parish Council have made this request due to an increase in workload.  

Somerton Parish Council last held elections in 2019, when there were six candidates for five vacancies. There have been no resignations since then. 

The electorate for Somerton Parish as at 1 December 2020 (annual publication of the new Electoral Register) was 249.

Read the full consultation letter.