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Community governance review – Witherley
About the review
A community governance review is a process to provide an opportunity to review and make changes to governance arrangements for town and parish councils and parish areas. This is to ensure they continue to reflect local identities and facilitate convenient and effective local government.
Community governance reviews are undertaken in accordance with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.
Why is the council undertaking the review?
The council is carrying out a review because a valid petition has been received from residents of Ratcliffe Culey within the parish of Witherley.
The petition asks for:
- Ratcliffe Culey to be removed from the parish area of Witherley before 31 March 2026
- A new parish council to be formed for the settlement of Ratcliffe Culey with five elected representatives
- The parish council to have a new name
In accordance with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, the council must now undertake a review because the petition contained sufficient valid signatures (at least 37.5% of the relevant electorate in cases where this is fewer than 500 electors).
Because Ratcliffe Culey is within an existing parish, any changes to the status of Ratcliffe Culey would affect the entire parish of Witherley. Therefore, the review must cover the whole of the parish.
The parish of Witherley includes:
- Atterton
- Fenny Drayton
- Ratcliffe Culey
- Witherley
The review officially started upon validation of the petition.
A further petition was subsequently received from residents of Fenny Drayton which is within Witherley Parish. The petition requested “a community governance review for the establishment of a new parish council for the rural settlement of Fenny Drayton separating from Witherley, Ratcliffe Culey and Atterton”.
As the whole of Witherley Parish is subject to the review which has already started, the council will take the petition into consideration as part of the existing review.
More information about the community governance review, including a timetable, can be found in the full terms of reference.
What has happened so far
The terms of reference for the review were approved by Council on 19 February 2026. Council also approved entering a period of consultation starting on 23 February 2026 and running until 3 April 2026.
What will happen next?
The consultation will run until 3 April 2026. After it closes, the responses will be analysed, and a working group of councillors will make draft recommendations to Council on 9 June 2026. The recommendations may be for changes or may be that there is no change to governance.
If approved, another consultation will take place on the draft recommendations between 22 June and 14 August 2026. The outcome of the consultation and final recommendations will be put to Council on 24 November 2026.
Should any changes to the structure of Witherley Parish be approved, they will come into effect in May 2027.
Last updated: 23/02/2026 10:10
