The council would like to reassure residents that we want to hear your views on the petition signed by people in the area. We strongly encourage you to complete the online survey on our community governance review page. Paper versions and translations can be requested by emailing cgr@salford.gov.uk or collected from Broughton Hub.
Everyone in the area has a voice on this proposal and the council wants to hear from anyone affected by it.
Myth: Salford City Council has proposed a parish council in the Broughton Park area
FACT: No, the council did not propose this. The proposal for a parish council came from within the community via a petition that met legal requirements. The petition was signed by residents, reaching the required number of signatures (7.5%) of the electorate for it to be valid. The petition can be viewed at www.salford.gov.uk/broughton-park-petition (Adobe PDF format). This means that Salford City Council must legally respond to that petition by consulting with people in the affected area as part of a process called a Community Governance Review.
Myth: It does not matter what residents think, as a parish council is already a done deal
FACT: No. It does matter what local people think. This is a genuine consultation to gather opinions on the proposal. It will help Salford City Council decide whether the proposal should go ahead. The council is aware of petitions being set up by residents to express objections to the proposal. These will also be accepted and will form part of the consultation feedback.
Recommendations will be based on feedback from consultation with residents as well as a range of factors from community considerations to operational and financial issues. A decision will be made by all councillors at a full council meeting in January 2026. Residents can influence this decision by completing the survey.
Myth: The consultation is a referendum on whether the area has a parish council
FACT: No. It is not a referendum. It is a consultation, and your feedback informs the council who will make the final decision.
Myth: Completing the survey means you are voting on the proposal for a parish council
FACT: No. Completing the survey means you are informing the council on your views on the petition. This includes whether you think that existing community governance arrangements are already satisfactory or whether other arrangements should be considered instead. There is free text space on the survey to provide more detailed feedback.
Myth: This proposal will lead to higher council tax (via a precept)
FACT: There are a number of ways that parish councils can be funded. They can be funded by an additional charge called a precept, which is collected via council tax. They can be funded from the local authority’s existing resources, though this would have implications for the level of resources to fund council services. They can also apply for some grants, seek sponsorship, borrow money (under very specific circumstances) or undertake local fundraising.
If a precept is charged, the level of a precept is the difference between a parish council’s estimated income from services and grants, and its anticipated spending requirements for the year. The level of precepts vary according to the powers and functions that a specific parish council undertakes. For more information about existing funding, visit www.nalc.gov.uk/about/parish-and-town-councils.html
Myth: It is not clear what powers the parish council would have
Myth: This proposal will only benefit a particular community who will control the parish council and impose their views on others
FACT: No. If a parish council goes ahead, parish councillors will be democratically elected by all eligible voters in the area. Also, a parish council is expected to deliver on behalf of all residents living in the area. Changes in governance affect everyone in the area which is why we are encouraging residents in the area to provide their views to the council through this consultation. A parish council is a local government body only. It is not a religious body and has no connection to the church. Parish councils are sometimes called a town, community, village or neighbourhood council. Many areas of Greater Manchester such as Bolton, Oldham and Wigan already have parish councils.
Myth: The council should have promoted the consultation better to ensure everyone is aware
FACT: The council has written directly to all households and businesses in the affected area. The resident mailing included a leaflet, survey, and a pre-paid envelope for returning paper versions. The council has also advertised the consultation in local media outlets, on social media, digital screens and Life in Salford alongside holding local drop-in information events. Residents can visit news.salford.gov.uk to stay connected with the council’s latest news online.
Myth: The council should have addressed the survey to named individuals to ensure everyone knew about it
FACT: No. It would be against data protection laws to use the personal data held by the council (from the electoral roll) to contact named individuals for the purposes of a consultation. Furthermore, it is normal practice for consultation surveys to be anonymous. This assures respondents that their individual answers will not be publicly linked to them.
Myth: The council should provide more details to help inform people’s opinion
FACT: No. The council must remain impartial so can only provide factual and neutral information to help inform views. The council has provided residents with information on what parish councils are, what services they usually provide and how they are usually funded to help residents reach an informed view.
At this stage it is not possible for the council to provide information about how much a parish council would cost and what services it will provide, as we are only seeking views on the proposal. The first step is to determine whether a parish council should be established.
