Horsham Town Community Governance Review

Governance Review map

A request to hold a Community Governance Review has been received from Horsham Blueprint.

The request asked that Horsham District Council undertakes a review of the unparished area of Horsham with a view to creating a town council that covered the currently unparished area.

The unparished area of Horsham is the part of the district that is not covered by any parish council. It is currently represented by three neighbourhood councils:

  • Denne Neighbourhood Council
  • Forest Neighbourhood Council
  • Trafalgar Neighbourhood Council

The Community Governance Review (CGR) process

A Community Governance Review is a legal process where the council will consult with those living in the area, and other interested parties, on the most suitable ways of representing the people in the area (in this case the unparished part of Horsham town centre). This means making sure that those living in the area, and other interested groups, have a say in how their local communities are represented.

The purpose of a CGR is to ensure that these arrangements are effective and efficient, and that they reflect the interests and identity of local communities. The review process gives you the chance to provide your view on how you would like to be governed.

ActionDate
Report to Governance Committee to approve the Terms of Reference for the review.18 December 2024
Commencement of review and publication of terms of reference.2 January 2025
Report to Governance Committee to approve the consultation documents.March/April 2025
Undertake formal consultation with other interested bodies in accordance with Section 93 of the Local Government and public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (6 weeks).1 May – 16 June 2025
Undertake formal consultation with local electors by means of consultation (6 weeks).1 May – 16 June 2025
Governance Committee considers consultation outcomes and produces draft recommendations, which may include the creation of a new town council for Horsham or that no further action is taken.July 2025
Undertake formal consultation with local electors in relation to draft recommendations by means of consultation (6 weeks).August – September 2025
Governance Committee considers consultation outcomes and produces final recommendations, which may include the creation of a new town council for Horsham or that no further action is taken.November 2025
Full Council meeting to approve a reorganisation order, if required.December 2025

What is a Town Council?

A town council is another term for parish council, and works within the same legal framework as a parish council. It is the lowest tier of local government below the “principal council”, in this case Horsham District Council.

A town council is a democratically elected and legally independent tier of local government with its own councillors. It can provide a range of local services within a defined area. Town councils’ activities fall into three main categories:

  • Representing the local community;
  • Delivering services to meet local needs; and
  • Striving to improve quality of life and community well-being.

Town councils are not tasked with statutory responsibilities relating to the provision of housing, social care, education and waste collection. They are a statutory consultee in relation to planning, but they are not a planning authority.

When a town council is formed, it can enter into discussions with the district and county councils about handing over services. The town council would then take responsibility for these functions, subject to agreement by the district and county councils.

A town council can choose not to deliver any services and instead act purely as a means of influencing local service provision made by the district or county council or other partners, such as the police. Alternatively, a town council can provide additional services to those provided by the district and county councils.

Our consultation on a Town Council for Horsham

We are asking you whether you would like a town council for Horsham.

This is an important time to have your say as the Government has proposed that local government is reorganised, which would mean that Horsham District Council and West Sussex County Council would cease to exist and a new council would be formed. This is called a unitary authority which would be responsible for all their main services.

Final proposals to create one or more unitary councils in West Sussex will be submitted to the government in September 2025. If the plans are accepted, elections to the new council or councils could take place in 2027.

Moving to a unitary council means the future of services and facilities will be decided by a much larger organisation, possibly not based in our area.  Examples of these services and facilities include the Neighbourhood Wardens, youth services, free live entertainment and events, enhanced street sweeping, the bandstands, the War Memorial, Hills Farm Cemetery,  the Museum, community halls, Horsham Park and town allotments.

Under this new arrangement there would be fewer councillors representing the town. Alternatively, a newly-formed town council would be able to deal with these local matters, and could take over running these services, with decisions about them made locally.

Residents and other interested parties can respond to the consultation on our Consultations webpage. Click the button below to have your say.

Respond to the consultation

The consultation process for the Community Governance Review

Before making any recommendations or publishing final proposals, the council will take full account of the views of local people. The council will comply with the statutory consultative requirements by:

  • consulting local government electors within the area under review;
  • consulting any other person or body (including a local authority) which appears to the council to have an interest in the community governance review (e.g. West Sussex County Council and the neighbourhood councils); and
  • take into account any views received in connection with the community governance review.