St Albans has a Community Governance Review (CGR) currently under way and this will decide whether the city centre needs a local parish/town council. The second stage CGR consultation runs until February 23 2026. The Civic Society strongly supports provision of a parish council (ie a town/city council) for central St Albans. We believe it would play a key role in protecting the character and heritage of St Albans by influencing decisions made by a unitary authority headquartered elsewhere and by managing some local assets and functions.
- Terry Philpott MBE, Town Clerk of Ware, who can talk about the positives of what a
Parish/ Town council can do, having taken Ware from near bankruptcy to a thriving
and innovative hub of the local community. - Trevor Snaith, Unitary councillor for Buckinghamshire, and local campaigner for High Wycombe. He can share details of what can happen to a thriving historic charter town in the absence of a local council.
- Peter Cartwright, also from High Wycombe and with immense experience of the changes in local government and historic towns.
- David Yates, Chair of St Stephen Parish Council, with insights on local parish council roles, interfaces and influence.
- Mary Conneely, Chair of the St Albans Civic Society, who will give the St Albans perspective and update us on the vote and campaign.