Neighbourhood Governance review
Overview
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment (EDCE) Bill brings a new requirement for all local authorities to make appropriate arrangements for effective governance of any neighbourhood area. It provides the Secretary of State with the power to make regulations which define a neighbourhood area, and to specify the criteria that these arrangements must fulfil.
MHCLG are reviewing local authority-led neighbourhood governance models in England, to inform this work. This survey has been designed to gather evidence to review existing local authority-led neighbourhood governance structures and to explore different approaches and their effectiveness.
‘Neighbourhood governance’ is about enabling decision-making at a more local level within a local authority area. Effective neighbourhood governance will move decision-making closer to residents, giving communities a greater say in what matters to them.
Our review is focused on local authority-led neighbourhood governance structures. The operation, powers and funding of town and parish councils will be outside of the scope of our review. However, the review will consider how effective partnership working between tiers of governance can be encouraged.
Why your views matter
As part of our review, we want to understand how existing neighbourhood governance structures operate, areas of “best practice” in neighbourhood governance and areas which could be improved.
We are looking to gather a broad range of evidence from across the country and from a range of organisations about a variety of different approaches to neighbourhood governance.
How to fill in this survey
You have received a direct link to the survey because we think you or your organisation will have experience or evidence of what makes effective neighbourhood governance.
Please fill this survey in on behalf of your organisation. You will have a good understanding of which team or officer is best placed to coordinate a response.
If you are replying as an individual councillor please make this known by stating your full councillor name when requested at the start of the survey.
We are primarily seeking views from local authorities, town and parish councils, think tanks and voluntary and community sector organisations. Please note that this is not a public consultation and the intent of this survey is to gather evidence on models of best practice.
This survey will close on 7 October 2025.
If you would like to share wider views on the Bill, you may do so in writing, details on how to do this can be found here: English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: call for evidence - UK Parliament. The House of Commons Public Bill Committee, which will be considering the evidence, has a tight deadline so you may wish to write as soon as you are able.