I am writing to notify you of the outcome of the Kirklees Community Governance Review.
At its meeting on 16 September 2026, Kirklees Council considered the final recommendations arising from the review, including the proposal to split Meltham Town Council into two parish wards.
A Link to the Council agenda, which includes the final report and detailed analysis (item 9) is attached for your information: Agenda for Council on Wednesday 16th September 2026, 5.30 pm | Kirklees Council
Council agreed that the proposal to create separate Meltham North and Meltham South parish wards should not proceed. Meltham Town Council will therefore remain unwarded and its existing governance arrangements will remain unchanged.
The recommendation reflects the clear and substantial opposition to the proposal received during the consultation. Respondents consistently described Meltham as a single, cohesive community with shared services, facilities and identity. Concerns were also raised that dividing the town could create unnecessary separation, lead to unequal representation, and add administrative complexity and cost.
Next steps
As the proposal will not proceed, there will be no changes to Meltham Town Council’s governance arrangements arising from this review.
Where the approved recommendations require changes to parish governance arrangements, the Council will now take the necessary steps to implement those changes in accordance with the relevant legislation and agreed timescales.
The Community Governance Review has been a significant piece of work to ensure that parish governance arrangements across Kirklees continue to reflect the identities and interests of local communities and provide effective and convenient for local governance.
We would like to thank Meltham Town Council for its engagement throughout the review process, including supporting consultation activity and submitting representations where applicable.
We recognise the important role played by town and parish councils in representing local communities and look forward to continuing to work closely with you. As previously discussed, the Council also intends to commence work on refreshing the Parish Charter and will engage with parish and town councils on this in due course.
If you have any questions regarding the outcome of the review, please do not hesitate to contact the Community Governance Review team.
