Community Governance Review Kidderminster and Stourport-on-Severn
Consultation now closed
Background
We have received two requests to conduct community governance reviews that arose from the Local Government Boundary Commission’s (LGBC) review of electoral arrangements for Worcestershire County Council, namely the changes to town council wards made in the LGBC’s final report.
The Worcestershire (Electoral Changes) Order 2024 No. 1176 was made on 13 November. The changes to town council wards made by the Order would not take effect until elections in May 2027 in the case of Stourport and in May 2028 in the case of Kidderminster.
Both town councils have asked for a community governance review to be conducted by Wyre Forest District Council in order to review the warding arrangements which do not enjoy local support.
Stourport-on-Severn Town Council resolved on 1 October 2024 to “request Wyre Forest District Council to carry out a Community Governance Review to re-establish its ward boundaries. This follows the Boundary Commission’s review of Worcestershire County Council.” This is interpreted as a request that the community governance review should look at continuing with the town ward boundaries that presently exist and were last used for the May 2023 elections.
On 23 October 2024 Kidderminster Town Council “resolved as follows:
- For the Kidderminster Foreign Review: To support the proposal that the Kidderminster Town Council boundary should include the Habberley Road development which should be transferred to the town.
- For Wolverley and Cookley: To call for redrawing of the boundary between Kidderminster and Wolverley & Cookley in two areas: i. At Sion Hill, by bringing the site of the former school site into Kidderminster (Wildmoor Rd). ii. Development on Stourbridge Road (Albrighton Drive & Bowdler Close) also to be brought into Kidderminster.
The Council further resolved as follows:
- To call on Wyre Forest District Council to carry out a community governance review to re-establish common ward boundaries with those used for WFDC in Kidderminster and to make other changes to Kidderminster’s boundary so that it includes Kittiwake Drive, the whole of the Woven Oaks development and the developed areas comprising Finepoint Way and Zortech Avenue.”
This last Kidderminster Town Council resolution clearly requests that a review should examine retention of common ward boundaries with those used for the District Council: it is implicit that this would involve the same number of councillors being elected from Kidderminster for WFDC and for the town council.
The first two resolutions (A and B) relate to the other ongoing community governance reviews which involve local advisory polls on 1 May 2025, following which decisions are to be taken by the District Council in July 2025. However as recommended below, the request in limb (B) can be addressed by additional elements to the local advisory poll that is already taking place on 1 May. (The description of the area in limb B(i) and maps in the report considered by the Town Council demonstrate that the area also encompasses Gibberd Way and Betula Place. Likewise the area set out in limb B(ii) in the report considered by the Town Council demonstrates that it also encompasses Podmore Close and Hurcott Rise and two properties that are on Stourbridge Road and lie between the development and the current boundary of Kidderminster.)
Community governance reviews can examine and alter the boundaries between parish councils, which is exactly the topic being considered in the CGR of Kidderminster Foreign. Limb (C) of the Town Council’s resolution seeks further changes to the boundaries between Kidderminster and neighbouring parishes. The report also recommends how this element of the request can be addressed.
In respect of both towns, there is ample opportunity to conduct a CGR before the next ordinary elections in May 2027 for Stourport and other parishes adjacent to Kidderminster
Key dates
|
Action |
Dates |
|---|---|
| Report to Council to approve the Terms of Reference for the review |
11 December 2024 |
| Commencement of review and publication of Terms of Reference |
6 January 2025 |
| Undertake formal consultation with other interested bodies in accordance with section 93 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 |
January – March 2025 |
| Undertake formal consultation with local electors in respect of three developed areas (see details below) by means of local advisory poll |
1 May 2025 |
| Full Council considers result of poll and other responses to consultation |
16 July 2025 |
| If there is support for amending the ward boundaries of Stourport-on-Severn and Kidderminster |
|
| Recommendation to full Council to consider and approve publication of draft proposals for reorganisation order setting out electoral arrangements |
16 July 2025 |
| Consultation on draft proposals for reorganisation order | August – October 2025 |
| Approval of reorganisation order by full Council |
December 2025 |
| Effective date of order |
1 April 2026 |
| If consultation demonstrates support for some or all of the minor changes to boundaries between Kidderminster and neighbouring parishes | |
| Recommendation to full Council to consider and approve publication of draft proposals for reorganisation order setting out revised boundaries (will follow same timeline as above) |
16 July 2025 |
| If there is not support for changing warding arrangements in the two towns and/or for altering the boundaries between Kidderminster and neighbouring parishes | |
| Recommendation to full Council to end the CGR as appropriate – no further action |
16 July 2025 |
| Elections to Stourport-on-Severn Town Council and parish councils |
6 May 2027 |
| Elections to Kidderminster Town Council | 4 May 2028 |
Read the full report to Council on page 24 of the meeting agenda (PDF)