Calls to review community governance across Buckinghamshire rejected
Calls to review Buckinghamshire’s town and parish council arrangements have been rejected.
At its latest meeting, Buckinghamshire Council’s standards and general purposes committee agreed to take no further action on a motion seeking a countywide community governance review.
The proposal, put forward by Cllr Khalil Ahmed and seconded by Cllr Trevor Snaith, sought to examine whether existing boundaries and arrangements properly reflected communities.
It also called for consultation with residents, parish councils and community groups before recommendations were brought forward.
But committee members argued there was no clear case for a review covering the whole county and that individual requests could already be considered.
Cllr Martin Tett said none of the five parish councils in his ward wanted a review.
He described the countywide approach as “a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut that doesn’t exist”.
Cllr John Chilver also supported taking no further action, citing the work and resources involved and the recent review of High Wycombe.
Council officer Tom Fowler told members government guidance recommended countywide reviews every 10 to 15 years.
Buckinghamshire Council was formed in 2020, and officers argued a comprehensive review would therefore ordinarily be considered during a future council term.
The council could still assess individual requests, while a valid petition meeting the required threshold could require a review.
Following the decision, Cllr Ahmed accused the council of using the recommended interval as a reason for inaction.
“Six years into the life of the new unitary authority, it is reasonable to ask whether the current arrangements are delivering the right level of local representation,” he said.
“The committee should have properly considered that question rather than simply deciding to take no further action.”
The decision concerned a countywide review, rather than a direct proposal to establish a Wycombe town council.
Cllr Snaith said the outcome was particularly disappointing for High Wycombe, which remains without its own town council.
High Wycombe’s previous review concluded in 2024. Cllr Snaith said the council had chosen to strengthen existing arrangements instead of creating a town council.
Cllr Snaith said: “The county-wide motion was a separate proposal. The fact that Wycombe underwent a review in 2024 does not, in itself, answer the wider question of whether governance arrangements across Buckinghamshire are appropriate or whether circumstances elsewhere justify further consideration.”
The councillors said they would consider their next steps with residents, acknowledging that the decision did not automatically prevent a future Wycombe-specific request or petition.
The officer report said the precise cost of a countywide review had not been quantified.