Consultation on draft proposals for reorganisation order Wolverley and Cookley

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN HEALTH ACT 2007

The Wyre Forest District Council (Reorganisation of Community Governance)(Wolverley, Cookley & Lea Castle) Order 2026

Made x day of x xxxx

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2)

Wyre Forest District Council (“the council”) in accordance with section 82 of the Local Government  and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (“the 2007 Act”), has undertaken a community governance review and made recommendations dated 16 July 2025:

The council has decided to give effect to those recommendations and, in accordance with section 93 of the 2007 Act, has consulted with the local government electors and other interested persons and has had regard to the need to secure that community governance reflects the identities and interests of the community and is effective and convenient:

The council, in accordance with section 100 of the 2007 Act, has had regard to guidance issued under that section:

The  council makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 86,

98(3), 98(4), 98(6) and 240(10) of the 2007 Act.

1. Citation and commencement

• This Order may be cited as the Wyre Forest District Council (Reorganisation of Community Governance)(Wolverley, Cookley & Lea Castle) Order
• Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4) of this Article 1, this Order comes into force on 1^st September 2026.
• Articles 14, 15 and 16 shall come into force on 1^st April 2027.
• For the purposes of

(a)    this Article and Article 2,

               and

(b)    proceedings preliminary or relating to the elections of parish councillors for each new parish,                 to be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2027, this Order shall come into              force on the day after that on which it is made.

2. Interpretation

• In this Order—

“district” means the district of Wyre Forest;

“Wolverley Parish” shall mean the land outlined in  blue on Map 1 which is the Wolverley Ward of the Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council;

“Cookley Parish” shall mean the land outlined in blue on Map 2 which is part of the Cookley Ward of the Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council;

“Lea Castle Parish” shall mean the land outlined in blue on Map 3 which is part of the Cookley Ward of the Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council

“existing” means existing immediately prior to the date of this Order;

“map” means the map marked “Map  referred to in the Wyre Forest (Reorganisation  of Community Governance)(Wolverley, Cookley &  Lea Castle) Order 20xx ” and deposited in accordance with  section 96(4) of the 2007 Act: and any reference to a numbered sheet is a reference to the sheet of the map which bears that number;

“Miscellaneous Administrative Assets List” means the document marked as such, a sealed copy of which is deposited at the principal office of Wyre Forest District Council;

“new parish” means a new parish constituted by article 4 and “new parishes” means all of them;

 “ordinary day of election of councillors” has the meaning given  by section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 1983;

“registration officer” means an officer appointed for the purpose of, and in accordance with, section 8 of the Representation of the People Act 1983;

“The 2008 Regulations” mean the Local Government (Parishes and Parish Councils) (England) Regulations 2008 No. 625.

3. Effect of Order

• This Order has effect subject to any agreement under section 99 (agreements about incidental matters) of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 relevant to any provision of this Order.

4. Constitution of new parishes

• A new parish, comprising the area outlined with a blue line on the map referenced as ‘Map 1’, shall be constituted within the district.
• The name of the new parish shall be Wolverley.
• A new parish, comprising the area outlined with a red line on the  map referenced as ‘Map 2’, shall be constituted within the district.
• The name of the new parish shall be
• A new parish, comprising the area outlined with a blue line on the map referenced as ‘Map 3’, shall be constituted within the district.
• The name of the new parish shall be Lea Castle.

5. Parish council for the parish of Wolverley

• There shall be a parish council for the parish of Wolverley.
• The name of that council shall be “Wolverley Parish Council”.

6. Parish council for the parish of Cookley

• There shall be a parish council for the parish of Cookley.
• The name of that council shall be “Cookley Parish Council”.

7. Parish council for the parish of Lea Castle

• There shall be a parish council for the parish of Lea Castle.
• The name of that council shall be “Lea Castle Parish Council”.

8. Annual meeting of the new parishes

• The annual meeting of the councils of the new parishes in xxxxx shall be convened to take place no later than 21 days after the day on which the councils of the new parishes are created.

9. Dissolution of the parish council for the parish of Wolverley and Cookley

• The parish council for the parish of Wolverley and Cookley shall be dissolved.

10. Abolition of the parish of Wolverley and Cookley

• The parish of Wolverley and Cookley shall be abolished.

11. Elections for the parish of Wolverley

• The election of all parish councillors for the parish of Wolverley shall be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2027, and every four years thereafter.

12. Elections for the parish of Cookley

• The election of all parish councillors for the parish of Cookley shall be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2027, and every four years thereafter.

13. Elections for the parish of Lea Castle

• The election of all parish councillors for the parish of Lea Castle shall be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2027, and every four years thereafter.

14. Number of parish councillors for the parish of Wolverley

• The number of councillors to be elected for the parish of Wolverley shall be 7.

15. Number of parish councillors for the parish of Cookley

• The number of councillors to be elected for the parish of Cookley shall be 7.

16. Number of parish councillors for the parish of Lea Castle

• The number of councillors to be elected for the parish of Lea Castle shall be 8.

17. Electoral register

• The registration officer for the district shall make such rearrangement of, or adaptation of, the register of local government electors as may be necessary for the purposes of, and in consequence of, this Order.

18. Parish Councillors: transitional provision

• The existing Wolverley and Cookley Parish Councillors for the Ward of Wolverley shall serve as Councillors for the Parish of Wolverley from the date on which this Order comes into force until the date on which the councillors elected on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2027 come into office.
• The existing Wolverley and Cookley Parish Councillors for the Ward of Cookley shall serve as Councillors for the Parish of Cookley from the date on which this Order comes into force until the date on which the councillors elected on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2027 come into office.
• The existing Wolverley and Cookley Parish Councillors for the Ward of Cookley shall serve as Councillors for the Parish of Lea Castle from the date on which this Order comes into force until the date on which the councillors elected on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2027 come into office.

19. Transfer of property, rights and liabilities

• Subject to paragraph (3) all interests in the land, property, rights and liabilities described in Schedule 1 (subject to any existing leases or licences in respect of such land or property), owned by Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council shall transfer to Wolverley Parish Council on the date specified in column (3) of Schedule 1.
• Subject to paragraph (3), all interests in the land, property, rights and liabilities described in Schedule 2 (subject to any existing leases or licences in respect of such land or property) owned by Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council shall transfer to Cookley Parish Council on the date specified in column (3) of Schedule 2.
• All interests in the land, property, rights and liabilities described in Schedule 3 (subject to any existing leases or licences in respect of such land or property) owned by Wyre Forest District Council shall transfer to Wolverley Parish Council on the date specified in column (3) of Schedule 3.
• All interests in the land, property, rights and liabilities described in Schedule 4 (subject to any existing leases or licences in respect of such land or property) owned by Wyre Forest District Council shall transfer to Cookley Parish Council on the date specified in column (3) of Schedule 3.
• All chattels or fixtures owned by Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council pertaining to the land or property transferred to Wolverley Parish Council or Cookley Parish Council respectively, shall transfer on the date specified in accordance with Schedules 1 and 2.
• The amounts held in bank accounts of Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council listed in Schedule 7 shall transfer to the councils of the new parishes in the proportions set out in paragraph (7).
• In accordance with Regulation 7 of the 2008 Regulations the existing balances of the bank accounts shall be apportioned and the “appropriate proportion” as calculated in accordance with Regulation 7(6) of the 2008 Regulations, shall be:

xx.x% in the case of Cookley Parish Council;

yy.y% in the case of Wolverley Parish Council; and

zz.z% in the case of Lea Castle Parish Council.

[to be completed following the close of consultation when council tax base is established]

• Subject to paragraph (10) the benefit, burdens, rights and liabilities of several contracts, details of which are listed in Schedule 5 Part 1, shall transfer to Cookley Parish Council.
• Subject to paragraph (10) the benefit, burdens, rights and liabilities of several contracts, details of which are listed in Schedule 5 Part 2, shall transfer to Wolverley Parish Council.
• In respect of the contracts listed in Schedule 5, on the last day of each month after this Order comes into force, for the unexpired term of the contracts, Cookley Parish Council shall make a payment to Wolverley Parish Council which shall be 50% of the cost of each contract for that month.
• The assets listed in Schedule 6 shall transfer to Wolverley Parish Council or to Cookley Parish Council on the date specified in column (3) of Schedule 6.

20. Accounts, payments and receipts of Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council

• Wolverley Parish Council will take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (as amended) in respect of the accounts of Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council for the period from 1 April 2026 to 31 August 2026 and the costs of doing so shall be met between the councils of the new parishes in the proportions set out in Article 19(7).
• Subject to paragraph (3), any existing debts or receipts of Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council relating to the period before the coming into force of the order that fall to be paid or received on or after 1st September 2026 shall be paid or received by Wolverley Parish Council.
• In respect of the payments and receipts in paragraph (2), Wolverley Parish Council shall pay to or receive from Cookley Parish Council and Lea Castle Parish Council the payments and receipts as the case may be in the proportion set out in Article 19(7), or such other proportion that the three councils may agree from time to time.

21. Clerk to Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council

• This article applies to the Clerk appointed by Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council for the proper discharge of its functions who holds office immediately before the date of the dissolution of Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council and to the Clerk’s contractual hours immediately before that dissolution.
• By virtue of this Order the Clerk shall be transferred to the new parishes on the basis of equal allocation of contractual hours to each of Wolverley Parish Council, Cookley Parish Council and Lea Castle Parish Council.

22. The Wolverley Charity charity number 1043970

• Wolverley Parish Council shall appoint a nominated trustee to the Wolverley Charity  for the vacancy that falls to be filled at the next annual general meeting of the charity  or such earlier date as that trusteeship may fall vacant, in accordance with paragraph 5 of the trust deed of 7 November 1994.

23. The Sebright Foundation charity number 527523

• Cookley Parish Council shall appoint 2 nominated trustees to the Sebright Foundation for the vacancies that fall to be filled on 31^st May 2027 and 26th  day of March 2028 respectively or such earlier date as those trusteeships  may fall vacant, in accordance with the trust deed of   12^th day of February 1973 as amended on 5^th July 2017.
• Wolverley Parish Council shall appoint 2 nominated trustees for the vacancies that fall to be filled on 13^th May 2027 and the date on which the trustee appointed on 4^th May 2026 leaves office respectively or such earlier date as those trusteeships may fall vacant, in accordance with the trust deed 12^th day of February 1973.

24. Cookley Playing Field and Village Hall charity number 523206

• Cookley Parish Council shall appoint a nominated trustee to the Cookley Playing Field and Village Hall for the vacancy  that falls to be filled at the AGM in April 2027  or such earlier date as that trusteeship  may fall vacant, in accordance with paragraph 6 of the Scheme dated 24 April 2008.

25. Wolverley Memorial Charity charity number 1183888

(1) Wolverley Parish Council shall appoint a nominated trustee to the Wolverley  Charity  for the vacancy that falls to be filled at the next annual general meeting of the charity  or such earlier date as that trusteeship may fall vacant, in accordance with paragraph 3 to Schedule 1 of the trust deed of 8^th April 2019

26. Order date

• xxxxx is the order date for the purposes of the 2008 Regulations.

 Schedule 1

Land and Property to be transferred by Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council to Wolverley Parish Council

Schedule 2                       

Land and Property to be transferred by Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council to Cookley Parish Council

Schedule 3   

Land and Property to be transferred by Wyre Forest District Council to Wolverley Parish Council

Schedule 4   

Land and Property to be transferred by Wyre Forest District Council to Cookley Parish Council

Schedule 5             

Contracts to be Transferred

Schedule 6

Miscellaneous assets to be transferred

Schedule 7

FUNDS AND BALANCES TO BE TRANSFERRED TO WOLVERLEY PARISH COUNCIL, COOKLEY PARISH COUNCIL AND LEA CASTLE PARISH COUNCIL

The appropriate proportion of the balances of Wolverley & Cookley Parish Council (the abolished authority) as shown immediately before the order date on the authority’s capital and revenue accounts shall be transferred to the capital and revenue accounts of Cookley Parish Council, Wolverley Parish Council and Lea Castle Parish Council (the transferee authorities).

The “appropriate proportion”, in relation to a transferee authority, means the proportion set out in Article 19(7)

[account details will be added in the final order]

Map 1: Wolverley Parish Council area

Map 2 Cookley Parish Council area

Map 3 Lea Castle Parish Council

Map 4 Wolverley Memorial Hall

Map 5 Wolverley Pound

Map 6 Wolverley Village Garden

Explanatory notes

This note is not part of the order

This Order gives effect to recommendations made by Wyre Forest District Council for the abolition of Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council and for the creation of new parishes of Wolverley Parish and Cookley Parish.

The parishes of Wolverley Parish, Cookley Parish and Lea Castle Parish will be created with effect from 1^st September 2026. The electoral arrangements apply in respect of parish elections to be held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2027.

Articles 9 and 10 provide for the dissolution of Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council and abolition of Wolverley and Cookley Parish.

Articles 11, 12 and 13 provide for parish elections in the parishes of Wolverley Parish, Cookley Parish and Lea Castle Parish in 2027, and then to continue according to the established system of parish elections every four years.

Articles 14, 15 and 16 specify the numbers of parish councillors for the new parishes.

Article 17 obliges the Electoral Registration Officer to make any necessary amendments to the electoral register to reflect the new electoral arrangements.

The map defined in article 2 shows the new parishes of Wolverley Parish, Cookley Parish and Lea Castle Parish. It is available, at all reasonable times, at the offices of Wyre Forest District Council.

Article 19 contains details of land, property, rights and liabilities described in Schedules 1, 2, 3 & 4 that shall transfer from Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council to Wolverley Parish Council and Cookley Parish Council and Wyre Forest District Council to Wolverley Parish Council and Cookley Parish Council on the date specified on those Schedules. Article 19 also introduces Schedules 5, 6 and 7 which transfer contracts, miscellaneous assets and funds and balances.

Under Regulation 8 of the Local Government (Parishes and Parish Council) (England) Regulations 2008, Charitable Property as defined in the Regulations shall vest in the transferee authorities within whose area the whole or the greater part of that specified area is situated immediately before that date.

Where under the trusts of a relevant Charity, trustees immediately before the order date include :

(a) An abolished authority

(b) The transferor authority in relation to a transferred area or

(c) The holder of an office connected with an authority mentioned in subparagraph (a) or (b)

On and after the order date those trustees shall include the authority in which property of the charity would have vested as mentioned above or, as the case may be, the holder of the corresponding office connected with that authority or, if there is no such office, the proper officer of that authority.