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Community Governance Review

We're holding a community governance review to consult on whether to bring local election dates into alignment. Read our draft recommendations and have your say.

Why we’re holding a review

When Westmorland and Furness Council was created, the next scheduled election date for the authority were set by central government to be in May 2027. The dates for scheduled parish and town council elections were not changed. Most parish councils in the area are already due to hold their next elections in May 2027. However, some are due to hold elections earlier or later than that.

We have received a number of requests to resolve this anomaly. As a result, we have launched a Community Governance Review (CGR), which is the legal route for us to review, consult and, if appropriate, make changes to election dates. 

Note that no other changes are being considered as part of this review – any changes to parish wards, parish boundaries and numbers of councillors will be considered after the current ongoing warding review of Westmorland and Furness Council.

Draft Recommendations

The Draft Recommendations are that:

  1. Parish and Town Councils with a scheduled election date in May 2026 : The Draft Recommendation is to defer the next scheduled election by one year. The elections in May 2026 will not take place. The current councillors will remain in post for one extra year, with their ‘retirement’ date postponed until May 2027. In May 2027, elections will be held with elections taking place four-yearly thereafter.
  2. Parish and Town Councils with a scheduled election date in May 2027 : The Draft Recommendation is to make no change to the election dates for these councils.
  3. Parish and Town Councils with a scheduled election date in May 2028 : The Draft Recommendation is to bring the next scheduled election forward by one year. The elections in May 2028 will not take place. The current councillors will remain in post for one less year, with their ‘retirement’ date changed to until May 2027. In May 2027, elections will be held with elections taking place four-yearly thereafter.

We want to hear from you to help us decide whether to change the dates of scheduled parish and town council elections. The reason for this proposal is that changing the election cycle to match that of Westmorland and Furness can save considerable money for parish councils, who will then all share their election dates, and makes the democratic process easier and more accessible for electors. 

List of councils affected

Parish/Town Councils up for election in 2026

  • Allithwaite & Cartmel
  • Dent
  • Garsdale
  • Kendal Town Council
  • Lower Holker
  • Natland
  • Sedbergh

Parish or town councils up for election in 2028

  • Blawith & Subberthwaite
  • Broughton East
  • Burton-in-Kendal
  • Cartmel Fell
  • Claife
  • Colton
  • Coniston
  • Crook
  • Crosthwaite & Lyth
  • Haverthwaite
  • Hawkshead
  • Helsington
  • Heversham
  • Holme
  • Levens
  • Lindale & Newton-in-Cartmel
  • Lowick
  • Milnthorpe
  • Preston Richard
  • Satterthwaite
  • Sedgwick
  • Stainton
  • Staveley-in-Cartmel
  • Staveley-with-Ings
  • Torver
  • Ulverston Town Council
  • Witherslack, Meathop & Ulpha

All other parish and town councils have scheduled elections already due in 2027.

How to respond

Anyone can respond to the consultation. 

Give us your views 

For more information about the review, please contact us by email:  elections3@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.