Consultation on community governance arrangements in Broughton Park area •Salford City Council

Banner - have your say on the proposal for a parish council in the Broughton Park area

Salford City Council is asking for the views of residents and businesses in the Broughton Park area of the city on the proposal for a Parish Council or other community governance arrangements.

When we refer to the Broughton Park area, we mean the area of Salford that includes parts of the Kersal and Broughton Park ward and parts of the Boughton ward. Located in the east of the city, this is highlighted on the map which can be viewed under the downloadable documents section at the bottom of this page.

The proposal to create a Parish Council for this area has been put forward through a petition submitted to the council on 12 February 2025 (Adobe PDF format) that was supported by the required number of signatures for it to be valid.

This means the council is legally required to undertake a Community Governance Review to consult with local people on the proposal before a decision is made. The consultation starts on Monday 16 June 2025 and the deadline to complete this survey is Monday 15 September 2025.

Community governance refers to how local communities are represented and governed at a local level. It involves organising local services and activities through the participation of residents, businesses, voluntary and community groups, along with other partners such as Salford City Council.

The Terms of Reference for the review can be downloaded from the bottom of this page.

Completing the survey

This survey is primarily for residents on the electoral register in the Broughton Park area, which is covered by this review. Locally based businesses and community and voluntary groups are also invited to take part. As part of completing the survey, we will verify your postcode so that we can understand whether you live, work or deliver services within or near to the boundary area.

To ensure everyone in the area aged 18 and over has an opportunity to have a say, the council is posting a survey to all households and businesses in the Broughton Park area. Residents are encouraged to respond digitally if they can as it saves time and money. If they need support, they can also call into Broughton Hub and see one of our friendly advisors.

The link to the online survey is in a pink box at the bottom of this webpage. It’s after all the consultation details and frequently asked questions which should be read before completing the survey.

You can find out more at one of our information events taking place within the community. These drop-in sessions will take place at Broughton Hub, 50 Rigby Street, Salford, M7 4BQ on the following dates:

Wednesday 25 June 2025 from 9am to 1pm
Wednesday 23 July 2025 from 3pm to 7pm
Tuesday 19 August 2025 from 12pm to 4pm

You can also respond to this consultation by submitting your views by email to CGR@salford.gov.uk or in writing to the following address:

Community Governance Review
(City Solicitor and Monitoring Officer)
Salford City Council
Salford Civic Centre
Swinton M27 5AW

The information and survey is available in Yiddish and Hebrew. Both translations can be downloaded from the end of this webpage. Paper versions in Yiddish and Hebrew (as well as English), along with pre-paid envelopes, can be collected from Broughton Hub. Other translations and special formats are available on request subject to consideration. Responses can be submitted in your preferred language.

Please read the following information carefully before completing this survey.

Purpose of this consultation

This Community Governance Review will establish if you think that:

The existing community governance arrangements in the Broughton Park area are satisfactory?
The community governance needs of the Broughton Park area would be better served by establishing a Parish Council for the area?
If a Parish Council was introduced, should it be as proposed in the petition?
Other community governance arrangements (other than those proposed in the petition) should be considered instead?

Geographical area within scope

The petition for a Parish Council in the Broughton Park area is based on the green shaded area of the map below. This consultation is based on the slightly larger area marked by the red border on the map, which expands the boundaries eastwards to the city boundary (to St Mark’s Lane and Highclere Avenue) and expands westwards to the river (between Great Cheetham Street West and Cliff Crescent).

This practical extension of the boundaries will ensure those additional areas included are not separated from the rest of the city. This expanded area has a local government electorate of 10,602.

What is a Parish Council?

A Parish Council (sometimes called a Town, Community, Village or Neighbourhood Council) is the most local level of government in England, often serving rural and small urban areas. There are currently no Parish Councils in Salford. Parish Councils are elected bodies that represent the interests of local people, acting as a voice for the community.

They have the authority to provide and manage some local services and facilities, such as provision of parks and open spaces, litter bins, and the maintenance of public footpaths.

Further information on how Parish Councils work can be found in our Frequently asked questions section below.

Power to raise funds

Parish Councils have the power to raise funds through a local tax called a precept, which is collected in addition to council tax. If the cost of running a Parish Council was instead met from Salford City Council’s existing resources, it would be likely that this would reduce funds available from Salford City Council for other services in the local area.

Proposed specific powers

The petition proposes specific powers (responsibilities) for a Parish Council to be formed in the Broughton Park area. These include, but are not limited to: waste collection, highways maintenance, recreation grounds, parks, leisure and community facilities, CCTV installation and maintenance, making byelaws for public walks and pleasure grounds, dealing with ditches and ponds, street lighting, litter bins and street cleaning, and being notified of planning applications.

Any Parish Council established by the community governance review would automatically have the standard powers common to all Parish Councils such as: grass cutting, providing litter bins, street lighting, parks and playgrounds, community buildings, and allotments. Household waste collection is not a standard power of parish councils. Any powers beyond the standard would be subject to separate processes following the establishment of the Parish Council.

Existing community governance arrangements in the Broughton Park area

The Broughton Park area of the city includes part of the Kersal and Broughton Park ward and part of Broughton ward located in the east of the city. In the west, this area is bounded by the River Irwell, and to the east by the city’s boundary with Manchester. The area is currently served by six ward councillors (three in Kersal and Broughton Park and three in Broughton), the East Salford Community Committee, and is supported by the council’s Neighbourhood Management Team.

Please visit our East Salford webpages for more information about the East Salford neighbourhood area and our councillor webpages for details of councillors.

Frequently asked questions

What is Community Governance?

Community governance also refers to how individuals and communities can influence decisions affecting them such as planning applications.

More information on community governance reviews can be found on the GOV.UK website.

What is a Parish Council?

Parish Councils, sometimes called town, community, village or neighbourhood councils, are the most local level of government. There is no legal difference between the powers of parish, town, community, village or neighbourhood councils. They can all have the same statutory powers and can provide the same types of services.

Typically, a Neighbourhood or Town Council is used in urban areas, while Parish Council is used in rural areas. Councillors elected by residents in the affected area make up these councils. In Town Councils the Chair of the council is entitled to be called the Town Mayor.

Parish Councils can own land and assets and provide or manage certain local public services, such as grass cutting, litter bins, street lighting, parks and playgrounds, community buildings, and allotments. They play a part in community representation and local administration, reflecting a distinctive community identity.

Parish Councils are also consulted on local planning applications within their area and can make recommendations, but they do not have the power to make planning decisions. As a Parish Council’s powers do not supersede the powers and obligations of any principal council for the area (which in this case is Salford City Council), Parish Councils often use their powers to supplement services already provided by a principal council. For example, a Parish Council might provide, at the Parish Council’s expense, additional litter bins to supplement those already provided by the area’s principal council. Occasionally, a Parish Council may enter into an agreement to deliver services on behalf of a principal council.

There are certain obligations which by law a Parish Council must fulfil. For example:

It must hold an annual meeting
It must hold at least three other meetings a year
It must appoint such officers as it believes necessary for the proper discharge of its functions. This must include an officer responsible for the proper administration of financial affairs
It must make Standing Orders for the supply of goods and services to the council

Parish Council elections should normally take place every four years at the same time as the elections for the principal council in which a parish, or part of a parish, is situated (Salford City Council).

Parish councillors are elected, in similar elections to those for principal council ward councillors.

More information about Parish Councils can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Why is the consultation taking place in this specific area?

The petition received covers an area referred to as Broughton Park. The area identified within the original petition in fact comprises part of the Kersal and Broughton Park ward and part of the Broughton ward.

Although the area identified in the petition to create a Parish Council does not need to align with existing electoral wards or polling districts, the council agreed to slightly expand the proposed area for practical reasons. This takes into account the natural geography of the area, administrative boundaries in the area, community identity and demographic characteristics of the area, and the potential impact on community relations and cohesion.

How are Parish Councils funded and what is a precept?

There are additional costs to operating a Parish Council. These can be met by existing council funding or through something called a 'precept', which is a charge added to, and collected along with existing Council Tax.

Typically, a precept is used to pay for the functions of a Parish Council. This precept is only collected from council tax taxpayers within the parish and would not be paid by households outside of the parish. The amount collected by the precept depends on the size of the Parish Council, the services it provides, and the number of properties which it covers.

The average precept in England in 2023/24 is £79.71, although some precepts are lower and some are considerably higher than this amount. Parish Councils can also apply for grants and loans to fund its services.

Are Parish Councillors paid an allowance or salary?

Parish Councillors are not typically paid an allowance or salary but can be reimbursed for expenses incurred.

Why is Salford City Council undertaking a Community Governance Review (CGR) in the Broughton Park area?

On 12 February 2025, Salford City Council received a valid petition signed by residents of the Broughton Park area to create a Parish Council.

In response, Salford City Council is required by law (through the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007) to conduct a ‘Community Governance Review’ which allows for the petition proposals to be considered. This involves consulting with local people and stakeholders to seek views on the petition proposals and other potential community governance arrangements.

The 2007 Act also requires that community governance reflects the identities and interests of the community and is effective and convenient. All responses to this survey, along with other evidence, will then be carefully considered by the council before recommendations are made.

The Terms of Reference for this CGR can be found as a downloadable document on this webpage.

Who decides whether a Parish Council is created in Salford?

Salford City Council decides the outcome following consultation with local people and other stakeholders. The council will ensure appropriate consultations take place, providing opportunities for local people to participate and express their views.

If a Parish or Town Council is to be created, a Reorganisation of Community Governance Order will need to be issued with elections usually the following May. The powers and responsibilities (beyond those common to all parish councils) are only decided at a later stage. Some aspects may need the agreement of others, such as Salford City Council, as well as consideration of the relevant operational, legal and financial issues.

Who can take part in the consultation?

Residents on the electoral register living in (or near) the affected area can take part in the consultation. Locally based community and voluntary groups and businesses operating in the area are also invited to take part. As part of completing the survey, the council will verify your postcode so that we can understand whether you live, work or deliver services within the correct boundary area.

Complete the online survey

Downloadable documents

If you are unable to view documents of these types, our downloads page provides links to viewing software.

Consultation on community governance arrangements in Broughton Park area