Community Governance Review - Parishes of Great Abington and Little Abington
A Community Governance Review (CGR) looks at the governance arrangements of parishes in the area under review and seeks to ensure that these are reflective of the identities and interests of the community in that area. This is process is set out in law under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.
The planned CGR could group Great Abington Parish Council and Little Abington Parish Council under a single governing body, while allowing each parish to retain its individual identity.
If the decision is to group the current parish councils into one larger parish council, the election for seats on the new parish council will take place in 2026, which will replace the scheduled elections for the separate parish councils.
The consultation has now closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many current Parish Council Seats are there and how big is the Electorate?
Currently there are two Parish Councils: Great Abington Parish Council (7 seats, 831 electors) and Little Abington Parish Council (7 seats, 404 electors)
What is a Community Governance Review (CGR)?
A CGR allows a principal authority like South Cambridgeshire District Council to put in place or make changes to town and parish councils - for example by creating, grouping, merging, abolishing or changing their boundaries.
What do town or parish councils do?
Town or parish councils are the first tier of local government and are separate elected bodies made up of local people representing the interests of their community. Their activities fall into three categories: delivering services, like parks, play areas and cemeteries, to meet local needs, giving the community a voice and representation, and improving the quality of life and community wellbeing.
How are they funded?
Town or parish councils are funded through a sum of money called a ‘precept’- a separate charge that is added to, and collected with, the Council Tax. The town or parish council sets its own precept to finance the services and facilities it provides.
Why should I respond to the consultation?
Decisions on a range of important matters are made on your behalf all the time. Where there is an opportunity to have these decisions taken more easily and locally, we think people should take it. The consultations give local people a voice and opportunity to influence important decisions. It involves listening to and learning from local people before decisions are made.
Why has South Cambridgeshire District Council consulted on a CGR?
Little Abington Parish Council and Great Abington Parish Council have requested that South Cambridgeshire District Council conducts a community governance review in time for the 2026 town and parish council elections. It will consider whether grouping them into a single, larger parish council would serve residents better.
What is grouping of parish councils?
Grouping of parishes refers to when two or more civil parishes are formally joined together under a single parish council. This is usually done to:
- Share resources and reduce costs
- Improve efficiency in administration
- Provide joint services across small neighbouring parishes
Each parish still keeps its identity, but they operate under one governing body. This setup is common in rural areas where individual parishes may be too small to manage everything on their own.
What area does it cover?
The scope of this review covers the combined area of Great Abington and Little Abington.
When could the new parish council be created?
Administrative and financial arrangements will take effect from 1 April 2026. Changes to electoral arrangements will come into force at the first scheduled elections following the review. This would be in May 2026.
Parish Maps
Maps of the affected areas can be downloaded below:
Phases
Review - Phase One
The consultation has now closed. During the current phase, the responses from the Phase One Consultation will be analysed. Demographic, financial and governance data will also be reviewed during this time.
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