Consultations

Harborough District Council is launching a community governance review to look at whether to establish a new Parish Council for the Market Harborough area.

Market Harborough does not have its own Parish Council. Instead, services that are usually provided by a Parish Council are provided by Harborough District Council and charged to residents of the area through their council tax as a “special expense”. This includes the cemetery, allotments, local parks, toilets and other facilities in the town centre, and running events in the Town including Harborough in Bloom. If a Parish Council was created, then these services could be transferred to from Harborough District Council to the new Parish Council.

The community governance review can explore whether the whole of the Market Harborough area should be part of a new Council decide on how many councillors a new council should have, and whether to divide the area into wards so that each part of the community elects its own councillors

We are now launching a consultation, asking you for your views. Anyone is welcome to submit their views – you don’t have to be registered to vote, and we can also hear from local organisations or businesses as well as individual. We have to make our decision based on what’s best for community governance, and not factors such as council tax payments (which is explained more in our FAQ’s – see below).

During the review process, we will also be running a non-binding local poll where all electors can have their say on 30 April 2026. This will be run just like a normal election and all registered electors in the Market Harborough unparished area can take part. They will receive a poll card closer to the time confirming how they can vote.

You may find it helpful to review following information before you respond to the survey –

• Terms of reference including timelines and key dates
• Community Governance Review FAQ’s explain what a review can and can’t do
• Outline of unparished areas of Market Harborough
• Community Governance Review Guidance
• Market Harborough Ward electorate and 5 year forecast
• What could a parish council mean for Market Harborough?

Respond to the survey:

Online
Complete our online survey by 13 April 2026

Email
Send your questions or comments to cgr@harborough.gov.uk 

In writing to:
CGR Consultation
The Elections Team
The Symington Building
Adam & Eve Street
Market Harborough
LE16 7AG