Public consultation underway in Worcestershire over local government reorganisation plans
The Government has launched a seven-week consultation asking people across the county for their views on the proposals for either a single unitary authority, or two
People across Worcestershire are being asked for their views on how councils across Worcestershire should be organised in the future.
A seven-week consultation is underway from the government over the subject of local government reorganisation after the county council and six district authorities submitted their preferred options in November.
Worcestershire County Council worked with Wyre Forest District Council to put forward a proposal for One Worcestershire which would be for a single unitary authority to represent the whole county.
The other proposal called 'Transforming Worcestershire' put forward by the other five, Worcester City, Bromsgrove District, Redditch Borough, Malvern Hills District and Wychavon District councils, is to create two unitary councils.
On the consultation being launched, councillor Joanne Monk, leader of Worcestershire County Council, said: “This is a good opportunity for people across Worcestershire to have their say to government on how local services are delivered in the future.
"The County Council supports the One Worcestershire proposal because a single unitary council offers less disruption for residents, provides greater financial sustainability, better value for money and easier access to services.
“I encourage all those who want their voice heard by government to look at both options and share their views during the consultation.”
The Government is expected to decide this summer which model for local government in Worcestershire will be taken forward.
Elections would then take place in May 2027 ahead of the new arrangements coming into effect on 1 April 2028.
Councillor Lynn Denham, leader of Worcester City Council, who are backing the two authorities proposal, said: “This will be the biggest change to your local councils in more than a generation and I would urge Worcester’s residents and businesses to get involved and make sure they get their voice heard.
“From highways to bin collections, this reorganisation will affect the local services that you value and rely on.
“Our bold and transformative proposal for separate councils for the north and south Worcestershire is the only one to be based on listening to the feedback of residents and businesses.
"It’s a plan that will simplify the delivery of essential local services, avoid the democratic deficit that a single unitary model could bring, and will preserve the different identities in our county while recognising the individual needs of our local communities.”
The consultation runs until Thursday 26 March.