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RESIDENTS in Formby and Little Altcar are being asked to have their say on proposals which could see the 2 existing Parish Councils combined to create a single new Parish or Town Council for the whole of Formby.

A Community Governance Review (CGR) is currently being carried out by Sefton Council, with statutory letters being sent to homeowners or property occupiers in the affected areas.

The review follows a proposal from:- both Formby Parish Council and Little Altcar Parish Council asking Sefton Council to consider removing the boundary between them and creating one new local Council.

Residents are now being asked for their views on the potential removal of the boundary, the representation they would receive under a combined Council and what the new Council should be called.

But what would actually change and why does it matter?

What is a Community Governance Review?

A Community Governance Review is a legal process conducted by the principal local authority, in this case Sefton Council, to examine community governance and electoral arrangements.

It can consider the creation, alteration or abolition of Town and Parish Councils.

Following the proposal from Formby and Little Altcar Parish Councils, Sefton Council must undertake a review in accordance with Section 83 (2) of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

The legislation enables principal Councils to carry out Community Governance Reviews to redraw local boundaries, merge Parishes or establish new Town and Parish Councils based on local demand.

What do Parish Councils actually do?

Parish and Town Councils form the same 1st tier of Local Government and have identical legal powers and responsibilities.

A Town Council generally projects a more urban civic identity, but its actual powers remain the same as those of a smaller rural Parish Council.

Both can act as advocates for local interests, providing a link between residents and higher levels of Government or other public bodies. Their funding can be used to enhance local wellbeing and foster a sense of community.

Their activities broadly fall into 3 areas:- delivering services to meet local needs, providing local representation and giving the community a voice, and improving quality of life and community wellbeing.

They also have discretionary powers to manage hyper-local amenities.

Sefton Council, meanwhile, is responsible for major statutory services including social care, education, waste collection, primary local authority-owned sports facilities, road maintenance and other key local infrastructure decisions.

Parish Council or Town Council:- what's the difference?

Both Parish and Town Councils raise funds through a local tax known as a precept, collected through Council Tax.

They can represent local communities, comment on planning applications and manage community assets including allotments, parks and village halls.

A Parish Council represents a Civil Parish, often a village or rural area, while a Town Council specifically chooses to use the word:- "Town" in its title.

There is another difference. A Town Council can appoint a Town Mayor, who chairs the Council, whereas a standard Parish Council is led by a Chairman.

Locally, Maghull has a Mayor while Formby currently does not. Both can act in a similar way to the Mayor of Sefton, although a Town Council Mayor can also carry out civic events within their area, as happens in Maghull.

What could happen to Formby and Little Altcar?

At present, Formby Parish Council is divided into 2 wards:- Harington and Ravenmeols, with:- 8 and 7 elected Parish Councillors respectively.

Little Altcar Parish Council has:- 7 elected Parish Councillors.

Formby Parish Council's Harington Ward has coterminous boundaries with the Sefton Council Borough Ward of Formby West, previously Harington Ward.

Ravenmeols Ward has coterminous boundaries with:- 4 polling districts within the Sefton Council Borough Ward of Formby East, previously Ravenmeols Ward. The other areas of Formby East cover the current Little Altcar Parish Council and Ince Blundell Parish Council areas.

If the 2 Councils are combined, the number of elected Parish Councillors would be reduced to a minimum of 15.

Sefton Council is therefore asking residents for their views on this change in representation.

To maintain the current warding arrangements of Little Altcar with the existing Ravenmeols Ward of Formby Parish Council, the names of the new Parish Council wards would be considered for alignment with the new Borough Ward names of Formby East and Formby West.

What would the new Council be called?

That is another question residents are being asked to consider.

If the Councils are combined, a new name would need to ensure the historic name of Little Altcar is not lost.

Consideration is also being given to whether the combined authority should remain a Parish Council or be renamed a Town Council.

The 2 options outlined are:-

• Formby and Little Altcar Parish Council.
  

• Formby and Little Altcar Town Council.

If combined, the income and financial reserves of the 2 existing Councils would also be pooled into one operational budget, improving administrative efficiency and funding flexibility across Formby and Little Altcar.

Sefton Council believes both Parish Councils play an important role in community empowerment at a local level.

The Council wants Parish Governance in the borough to continue to be robust, representative and able to meet future challenges, while also ensuring clarity and transparency over the areas represented by Parish Councils.

Residents have until:- 31 October 2026...

In undertaking the Community Governance Review, Sefton Council will be guided by legal responsibilities under Part 4 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 and relevant parts of the Local Government Act 1972.

It will also follow guidance on Community Governance Reviews issued in accordance with Section 100(4) of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 by the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Local Government Boundary Commission for England in March 2010.

Residents who receive a statutory letter are being encouraged to respond.

Anyone who does not receive a letter is advised to contact Sefton Council regarding its non-receipt.

All submissions must reach Sefton Council's Electoral Services by:- 31 October 2026.

More information can be obtained by contacting the Parish Councils via:-

• Formby Parish Council...
  
  Website:- Formby-PC.Gov.UK
  Email:- Clerk@Formby-PC.Gov.UK
  Telephone:- 01704 395955.
  

• Little Altcar Parish Council..
  
  Website:- LittleAltcar-PC.Gov.UK
  Email:- Clerk@LittleAltcar-PC.Gov.UK
  Telephone:- 01704 395955.

What do you think? Should Formby and Little Altcar have one Parish or Town Council, or should the current arrangements remain?

We would also like to hear your views. Email our Newsroom at:-News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on our social media channels:- Mastodon, Facebook, or X.Com. Please do let us know as we love to hear your views....