Ministers have today published three key measures aimed at making it easier for communities to set up town and parish councils.

Following a consultation lasting three-years, ministers have agreed to lower the threshold for triggering a review of governance from 10% to 7.5% of residents, to shorten the timescales in which principal local authorities can undertake community governance reviews to 12 months, and to allow neighbourhood forums to launch governance reviews for new parishes without the need to submit a petition.