Residents in Ilkeston and Kirk Hallam are being invited to take part in a consultation that could help shape local governance in the area for years to come.
Erewash Borough Council has launched a Community Governance Review which will consider whether new parish or town councils should be created for Ilkeston, Kirk Hallam and Long Eaton.
The review will also examine existing arrangements in Sandiacre, Dale Abbey and Stanton-by-Dale.
The consultation, which runs until 20 August 2026, is the first stage of a formal process designed to gather residents’ views before any draft recommendations are prepared.
While no decisions have been made, the review could eventually lead to the creation of new local councils for Ilkeston and Kirk Hallam.
Town and parish councils are the most local level of government. They can represent communities on local issues, support community projects and events, manage certain local facilities and provide an additional voice on matters affecting residents.
However, they are funded through a parish precept, which is collected as part of council tax bills. At this stage, no proposals have been published regarding what any future precept might be or how much it could cost residents.
The review comes at a time when local government across Derbyshire is facing significant change.
The Government is currently progressing plans for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), which could eventually see the existing county and district council structure replaced by larger unitary authorities.
Some supporters of town and parish councils argue that they help ensure communities retain a strong local voice if decision-making moves further away from towns such as Ilkeston and Kirk Hallam. Others question whether an additional layer of local government is necessary.
Erewash Borough Council says the review is intended to ensure communities have the opportunity to consider the same arrangements that already exist in many other parts of the borough.
Residents can take part in the consultation in a number of ways:
• Online at the Let’s Talk Erewash consultation portal
• By post to:
Democratic Services
Ilkeston Town Hall
Wharncliffe Road
Ilkeston
DE7 5RP
• By attending one of the public engagement events:
Long Eaton Town Hall – Tuesday 14 July, 6.30pm
Ilkeston Town Hall – Tuesday 11 August, 6.30pm
This is the first of two public consultations. A second consultation on draft recommendations is expected later this year, before final proposals are considered by Erewash Borough Council in Spring 2027.
Whether residents support or oppose the idea of new councils, the current consultation provides an opportunity for people in Ilkeston and Kirk Hallam to have their say before any recommendations are drawn up.