3. July 2026

Garforth Neighbourhood Planning Forum (GNPF) Newsletter July 2026

Many of you will remember joining the GNPF  several years ago and participated in the working groups and consultations which enabled us to finally produce a Neighbourhood Plan which was passed by the Examiner  and voted for in 2024.  The plan now has to be monitored to ensure that the policies within the plan are taken into account by the  Leeds City Council (LCC )Planning Department and developers.

The Plan also identified several projects  which could improve  many of our Green Spaces and other facilities, however without legal power and finances this is unlikely to happen

Garforth is surrounded by other areas with Parish Councils, who  together with their Ward Councillors promote the well being of their community. The GNPF Steering group has concluded that Garforth would benefit from a Parish Council, an organisation with greater influence, that would work with our local councillors.

 Previous emails to members have given information on the next Leeds Local Plan and how  additional development  could affect Garforth residents. Past consultations have identified that people are concerned about the impact of further development,  access to essential services, road congestion, surface water flooding , the Green Belt and good quality agricultural land.

There is now an urgent need for a combined representation and support from all interested parties to oppose LCC’s latest plans to develop in and around Garforth.

We have taken advice from the LCC Electoral services, the Yorkshire Local Government Association and  from neighbouring Parish Councils. and Ward Councillors and have  submitted a formal application ( see below ) for a Community Governance Review to LCC and our Ward Councillors. It was sent to the LCC Legal and Planning services who have given approval  and it will now be sent to the General Purposes Committee who  next meet in July  and will make a decision whether or not to allow this application to be taken to a local referendum .This is the first step in the process which should be completed within the year.

The application has been validated by the Leeds City Council’s Electoral Services and  they are now drawing up Terms of Reference which will be  submitted to the General Purposes Committee on 13^th July  for their approval. We will keep you informed.

Application for a Garforth Parish Council

1. The Garforth Neighbourhood Planning Forum wishes to apply for a Community Governance review to create a new parish Council for Garforth.
   1. The name of which would be Garforth Parish Council
   1.  It is hoped that this can be established by May 2027
2.  This application meets the criteria identified in the Leeds Parish and Town Council Charter and the Community Governance application 80A (3) (4) (5) (6) identified/ stated in the Local Government and Public involvement Act.
3. Background and rationale 
   1. There is a precedent for this request
   1.  From the establishment of Parish Councils in 1894 a Garforth Parish Council managed local affairs. In 1908 the Garforth Urban District Council was established and provided all the civic duties, housing and town planning for Garforth, Allerton Bywater and Kippax. In 1974 under the Local Government reorganisation Garforth, Allerton Bywater and Kippax were incorporated into Leeds City Council and became separate wards.
   1. In 1998 Allerton Bywater and in 2004 Kippax applied to Leeds City Council and were granted Parish Council status. Garforth is the only settlement in the area that is not represented by a Parish Council.
   1. The Garforth Neighbourhood Planning Forum was designated in 2014 to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan. This has been completed, submitted for examination, passed at a referendum and ‘made’. There is now a subsequent need to monitor the implementation of the plan and continue to inform, seek and represent the views of the local community on planning issues. However, without access to manpower and funds this is extremely difficult if not impossible to achieve.
   1. During the preparation of the Garforth Neighbourhood plan the forum held many consultations and surveys which provided opportunities for residents to voice their concerns about the facilities, services and the future of Garforth
   1. Garforth need the stability of a formal, legally constituted Parish Council, which would bring with it legal powers, duties, elected councillors and access to funds.
   1. There are clear advantages to the community   of a Parish Council, as opposed to a Parish meeting or other community body. A parish Council would have a direct line of communication with and be formally consulted by Leeds City Council.

The Benefits to the Community of a Parish Council

       4.1  A Garforth Parish Council would be non-political and work in collaboration with elected ward councillors, as in other parishes       

It would have the democratic mandate to represent the views of Garforth residents when discussing major issues relating to Garforth

4.2   A Parish Council would work alongside our ward councillors who would be greatly welcomed at meetings, owing to their long and valued experience in Garforth, as an additional voice to:

• Promote the health and well-being of everyone who lives and works in Garforth;
• Help to ensure that Garforth remains a separate and a distinctive settlement;
• Protect and improve access to essential health, educational services, green spaces, leisure and community activities;
• Support Main Street, local employment and public transport;
• Ensure that any CIL money due from current construction in Garforth would only be spent in Garforth and not in the wider ward of Garforth & Swillington;
•  Further support and encourage local community groups

4.3  Garforth is a thriving community and a Parish Council would further promote     community cohesion and provide a greater sense of distinctive local identity, e.g. working with local charities to organise community events.

4.4  It would also provide an opportunity to work with neighbouring Parish Councils, the Outer East Community Committee, schools and churches to share ideas and collaborate where appropriate e.g. upgrading and maintaining Green Corridors and environmental issues.

• Proposed Composition of the Garforth Parish Council
  • Having taken advice from the Yorkshire Local Government Association, it is understood that Leeds City Council will assist in the allocation of wards, setting precepts and determining what services will be passed to the responsibility of a new Parish Council.
  • The boundary of the proposed parish includes the majority of the area known as Garforth which is not covered by any neighbouring Parish Councils (Aberford and Barwick). It is shown on the attached map.

• There are 11 polling districts and 12,003 electors
  •  The organisation of a Garforth Parish Council could be similar to that of Kippax with      three wards and 15 councillors.
  •  Garforth could be split into
• West Garforth,
•  Moor/Church Garforth
• East Garforth
  • These suggested wards are based on the original maps of the area and reflect the development of Garforth by new estates from west to east.
• Moor/ Church Garforth is the site of the original settlement based on Townend, Main Street and Lidgett Lane bordered by the A642 Aberford Road and the A63 to the south.
• West Garforth includes the first major estate development bordered by The Wakefield and Selby Roads.
• East Garforth situated on the east and south east of Garforth, reflecting subsequent major estate developments, bordered by the Aberford Road to the north and the Selby Road to the south.

6. It is recognised that there would need to be an interim/provisional Parish Council organisation prior to the election of Parish Councillors and advice from Leeds City on the allocation of polling districts to the three wards would be welcomed.