Cheltenham Borough Council is proposing the creation of the first ever Cheltenham Town Council, to 'better serve' thousands of residents in the town.
Full council will be asked to approve the creation of the new council for Cheltenham at a meeting on Monday 19 October 2026, along with a number of changes to parish boundaries in the borough.
The borough council has governed Cheltenham for 150 years, but amid the proposed reorganisation of local government in Gloucestershire – which would see the authority dissolved – it started a review in May 2025 to look at how parish councils are organised across the borough.
It says the aim was to make sure local communities are fairly represented and that local government works effectively, 'especially' if reorganisation goes ahead in the future – though it is currently on hold.
In the consultation, residents said they wanted better local representation and stronger alignment of council boundaries to better match communities, the council says.
The new Cheltenham Town Council would serve 57,000 electors who currently live in unparished areas of the town, and would come into effect from Thursday 1 April 2028.
Consisting of 25 councillors, it would be divided into 15 wards: All Saints, Battledown, Fiddlers Green, Charlton Park, College, Hester’s Way, Lansdown, Oakley, Park, Pittville, Springbank, St Mark’s, St Paul’s, St Peter’s and Swindon Village.
Councillors will also be asked to agree to the creation of a ‘shadow’ town council, made up of current ward councillors representing the areas that will form the new council, to help prepare for its launch and election.
Details of services and funding relating to the new town council will be determined 'in due course'.
Alongside the new town council, councillors will be asked to approve recommended parish boundary changes, and the creation of an extended parish council covering Up Hatherley, Benhall and the Reddings.
Councillor Rowena Hay, leader of Cheltenham Borough Council, said: 'Through these proposed changes, we can offer more effective local government across the whole of Cheltenham which better represents and supports our communities.
'With changes taking place across local government, it remains our responsibility to consider what is best for Cheltenham and its future. We must remain accountable and accessible for those in our communities and be in the best possible position to serve our residents and meet their needs.
'I welcome all of the work that has taken place already, the input of local people through the various consultations and I look forward to the next steps.'
