RESIDENTS are being asked to give their views on Dorset's town and parish councils in a review which will shape the way representatives reflect their community.

Dorset Council has launched a community governance review, a legal process which offers an opportunity to put strong, clearly defined boundaries in place and remove any boundary irregularities that may exist between town and parish councils.

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Councillors are looking for feedback on whether the boundaries of the parish need changing, if an alternative set up would work better, for example if a parish meeting would work better than a parish council for very small areas, if a parish should be divided into wards or if existing wards need altering, or if a parish should be groups with other town or parish councils.

Residents are also invited to give their thoughts on changing the number of town or parish councillors, or changing their town or parish council's name.

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Councillor Spencer Flower, leader of Dorset Council, said: "Town and parish councils provide and maintain many essential services for their local communities and are at the heart of our towns and villages.

"Needs and communities change over time so this review is timely and required to be undertaken to keep local democracy up-to-date. It also gives an opportunity to harness the knowledge and experiences of local people to ensure their councils reflect local identities and interests.

"It is an appropriate time to undertake the review of all town and parish councils in the area, being just over two years since Dorset Council was formed."

The public consultation will last 12 weeks, after which the council will consider the responses and prepare a draft of its recommendations. There will then be a further consultation and the final recommendations will be published in April 2022.

Any changes to the town and parish councils will become effective from May 2024.

The questionnaire will be available from August 5 and will close on October 28. Paper copies will be available at Dorset Council libraries or by calling 01305 251010 or to access it online, visit the Dorset Council website.