The Legislative Reform (Community Governance Reviews) Order 2015

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

The Order is made under the provisions of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c. 51) and amends the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (“the 2007 Act”) to remove burdens on those who wish to campaign to set up a new parish council.

Article 3 reduces the percentage of local government electors who need to sign a community governance petition in order for it to be valid.

Article 4 inserts a new section 80A into the 2007 Act. This will allow an organisation or body designated as a neighbourhood forum under section 61F of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to apply for a community governance review in respect of an area specified in a neighbourhood development plan made under section 38A of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. An application for a review, which can be made without the forum having to organise a petition, will be treated in the same way as a valid petition.

Articles 5-9 make consequential amendments to take account of section 80A.

Article 10 amends the time period that the principal council has to conclude the community governance review. This is reduced from 12 months starting on the day the review begins, to 12 months from the day of receipt of the petition or application.