The Electoral Review Committee of Wiltshire Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 27 October 2026. The primary focus of the meeting will be the Community Governance Review 2026/27, which involves considering potential changes to parish boundaries, names, and governance arrangements across various areas of Wiltshire.

Community Governance Review 2026/27

The committee is expected to consider a report detailing draft recommendations for the Community Governance Review 2026/27. This review process allows for adjustments to the governance of parishes within Wiltshire, which can include altering the number of councillors or wards, changing external boundaries, or even the creation, merger, abolition, or grouping of parishes. Any proposed changes must align with statutory criteria, ensuring that electoral arrangements reflect local community identity and interests, and promote effective and convenient local governance.

The report outlines proposals and considerations for several areas:

• Southern Wiltshire: This section details requests and representations from parishes such as Idmiston and Laverstock & Ford, where warding arrangements imposed in 2021 are being reviewed. Coombe Bissett Parish Council has requested a boundary adjustment to include properties with closer connections to their community, and a name change to Coombe Bissett and Homington. Alderbury Parish Council has also proposed a small area transfer from Clarendon Park. Allington Parish Council has requested a formal name change to Allington with Boscombe.
• South West Wiltshire: Here, Wilton Town Council has suggested including a small area of Burcombe Without within their town. Bowerchalke Parish Council has identified properties within Broad Chalke that they believe are more appropriately part of their community. The report also highlights the status of several Parish Meetings in the area, including Alvediston, Berwick St Leonard, Chicklade, Compton Chamberlayne, Fonthill Bishop, and Stratford Tony, and considers whether grouping or merger arrangements might be appropriate for inactive meetings.
• Stonehenge: This area includes proposals from Shrewton Parish Council for a transfer of properties from Orcheston parish and a small boundary change with Winterbourne Stoke. Stapleford Parish Council has raised the prospect of a merger with Berwick St James, which is a parish meeting. Durrington Town Council has requested amendments to its warding numbers.

The committee is expected to consider these proposals and make provisional draft recommendations for public consultation. The statutory criteria for these reviews emphasize reflecting community identity and interests, and ensuring effective and convenient governance. The report also notes that council tax precept levels are not valid criteria for approving or disapproving proposals.

The committee is expected to make provisional draft recommendations for each area under review and delegate the preparation of a detailed draft recommendations document to officers. A public consultation is proposed for November-December 2026, with final recommendations to be considered by Full Council in May 2027.

The meeting will also include standard agenda items such as receiving apologies, considering minutes from the previous meeting held on 29 September 2026, and considering any declarations of interest or chairman's announcements. Provisions for public participation, including statements and questions, are also outlined.