Timeline

We are carrying out this consultation in two stages:

Stage one: Gathering your views (19 May – 18 July 2025)

The stage one consultation has now closed. To find out more about the stage one consultation, visit the consultation background page.

Stage two: Your views on a town council for Cheltenham (24 February to 29 March 2026)

Full council approved the following recommendations on 13 October 2025. These recommendations were developed based on the feedback given in stage one of consultation. We would like to thank everyone who provided their feedback in stage one.

Recommendations

To complete a full review of the boundaries of Swindon Village Parish and Prestbury Parish, including Wyman’s Brook to establish which parish it should sit in
To complete a full review of the unparished area between Prestbury and Charlton Kings to understand if it should be incorporated into one of the already established councils
To consider setting up a new parish for Benhall and The Reddings
To directly ask the public, in stage 2 of the CGR, if they would like to see a town council in Cheltenham. This consultation question would provide an overview of what a town council could be responsible for and provide some options as to its boundaries
To complete a full review of the Leckhampton and Warden Hill Parish to understand whether the existing parish should be extended and/or separated into two parishes

Stage two of the Community Governance Review consultation focuses on the town council proposal only, this has borough-wide implications. However, a separate piece is ongoing on the other recommendations and will be subject to consultation also.

Town and parish councils are funded through a precept, which forms part of council tax bills. If a town council were created, there would be a precept to fund its running costs and any services it provides.

No decisions have been made about the level of any precept as it is dependent on the size of the council and the services it provides.

Key dates

Consultation timeline
Date	Action
12 May 2025	Full Council approved the terms of reference, signifying the start of the review. Visit the meeting page for more information
19 May – 18 July 2025	First period of public consultation
August – September 2025	Review by officers and working group and development of draft recommendations
13 October 2025	Full council approved recommendations for the second round of consultation
24 February - 29 March 2026	Second public consultation
Summer 2026	Council will consider all consultation feedback and decide whether to make a final proposal.
To be confirmed	If agreed - The council would work with communities on further design and engagement, before any final decision is implemented.