Councillors vote in favour of two unitary authorities for Worcestershire
Worcester City Council rejected the alternative vision of one unitary council for the whole county, at a meeting on Tuesday (September 2)
City councillors have voted in favour of two unitary authorities for Worcestershire.
Worcester City Council rejected the alternative vision of one unitary council for the whole county, at a meeting on Tuesday (September 2).
Councillors expressed a preference for north and south Worcestershire councils in February but revisited the issue after work by consultants Mutual Ventures over the summer.
A final proposal will now be worked up before being submitted to the Government in November.
Leader Lynn Denham said local government reorganisation was an opportunity “to make a once-in-a-generation change to transform local council services in Worcestershire”.
The Labour councillor said the ongoing savings from a single unitary approach were “less than one percent of gross service costs”.
“It simply overlays new services on a county structure we recognise has not really been working for Worcester,” said Cllr Denham.
Green Party co-leader Alex Mace said: “We have in front of us the option of new bodies, new thinking and a new Worcestershire.
“I know some think a single unitary is the only way to preserve Worcestershire as it is but it simply isn’t true.
“The historic county of Worcestershire will remain but within it two new focussed and agile councils dedicated to providing the best services for Worcestershire in their respective areas.”
He said Worcestershire County Council is “too slow, too big and too distant and not interested in the needs of residents across the whole county, let alone Worcester.”
Cllr Mace said public support for a two-unitary approach gave a “mandate to move ahead” with that option.
The majority of councillors voted in favour of creating two unitary councils for Worcestershire.
But Liberal Democrat councillors and Labour’s Richard Udall abstained from the vote.
Lib Dem co-group leader Jessie Jagger said: “What we are being asked to do tonight is not a real choice. Both options would abolish Worcester City Council and take the local voice further away from the people we represent.
“If pressed, two authorities is the least damaging option. But what is the point when the county council has already spent £350,000 on a PwC report centred around defending a foregone conclusion?”
She said the regional mayors proposed by Labour would have “unprecedented powers”.
“It is not hard to imagine a bombastic populist sweeping in. That would hand one individual more power than any MP with fewer checks and balances.
“The best option is no reorganisation at all. This reorganisation is costly and damaging for Worcester’s democratic voice.”