Formal review launched of proposed Graffham-East Lavington merger: Have your say

CDC yesterday evening (Tuesday 22 September) accepted the recommendation of its Boundary Review Panel, which met on 1 September, to carry out the review – which both Graffham and East Lavington had requested.

A final decision on whether to combine the current two separate parish councils is now expected at CDC’s meeting on 19 January 2027.  Under current legislation, district councils have the authority to review on such parish council mergers and boundary reviews.

If the proposal is given the go ahead, this timetable would allow for a new single parish council for Graffham and East Lavington to be put in place immediately after the local government elections next May.

CDC wasted no time in launching its boundary review, with a notice posted on its website today initiating its consultation process, inviting residents, community groups and other stakeholders to give their views on the proposed merger.

You can submit them by Friday 23 October:

• By email to elections@chichester.gov.uk.
• By post to Electoral Services, Chichester District Council, East Pallant House, 1 East Pallant, Chichester PO19 1TY.

CDC said: “All responses received during the consultation period will be considered by the Boundary Review Panel before recommendations are made to full council, which will make the final decision.”

In a note of explanation, it added: “Community Governance Reviews enable councils to consider whether local governance arrangements continue to reflect the identities and interests of local communities and whether they support effective and convenient local government.”  Anyone requiring further information about the review process can contact the Electoral Services team on 01243 521010.

This latest step follows several years of discussion within the neighbourhood, by both parish councils and including a special joint meeting of the two parishes a year ago, indicating a strong level of support among residents for the proposed combination.

In an indicative ballot held at the end of that meeting, the 40 residents of East Lavington who either attended the meeting or cast a vote by email  – representing more than 25 per cent of the parish’s total electors – polled 92 per cent in favour of combining with Graffham.  In total, 37 voted for a merger and just three against.

From Graffham, the level of support was even higher.  Only one of the 33 who cast a vote was against a merger.

Proponents argue the merger would save duplicated spend on administration across the two councils and formally recognise that the areas covered by the two councils have long since already effectively been one community.

For full background to the merger proposal, see Graffham Parish News’ October 2025 issue.