The Wolfords Joint Parish Council has made an application to Stratford-on-Avon District Council requesting a Community Governance Review (CGR) is undertaken in regard to current warding arrangements for Little Wolford Ward, ahead of the Ordinary Parish Elections to be held in 2027. A CGR is a legal process where Stratford-on-Avon District Council (the Council) can create or abolish parish councils and review and change parish arrangements, such as the number of parish council seats, warding and boundaries.
When the Joint Parish Council came into being on 4 May 2023 to oversee the governing arrangements for the parishes of Great Wolford and Little Wolford, 4 councillors were allocated to Great Wolford, and 1 councillor was allocated to Little Wolford. However, this allocation (according to electorate figures extracted from the January 2026 Electoral Register) shows an imbalance of electors per councillor in each ward: in Great Wolford there are 39 Electors per Councillor, but in Little Wolford there are 88 Electors per Councillor.
The Joint Parish Council therefore wishes to seek a second seat for the Little Wolford Ward, which would result in 44 electors per councillor (rather than 88 electors currently) to ensure fairer and proportionate representation between the two parish wards at the next Ordinary Parish Election in 2027. In summary, Great Wolford Ward would retain four parish councillors with Little Wolford Ward increasing its number to two (with six seats being within the criteria set out in the National Association of Local Council’s Guidance, for the electorate total of the two parishes).
Stratford-on-Avon District
Council will:
- Agree the Terms of Reference, setting out the scope of the CGR, the timetable and the consultation methods.
- Consult any other person or body which is considered by the Council to have an interest in the CGR, inviting them to submit their views.
- Inform and consult the relevant District and County Councillors.
- Consult with Warwickshire County Council.
The Consultation Period will commence on Thursday 7 May 2026 with the deadline for comments to be received by Friday 12 June 2026.