Worcester City Council last night (11 February) held its first formal debate over the Government’s plans to reorganise local government and resolved to call for the creation of a new South Worcestershire unitary council.
The Government last week wrote to the City Council to invite it to submit proposals on how local government should be reorganised in Worcester, as the start of a process of devolving more power from Westminster.
The Government wants “two-tier” areas in England, where some services are provided by a district council and others by a county council (as is the case in Worcestershire), to be replaced by a single “unitary” authority that delivers all local services.
The letter from the Government asked for an interim plan for reorganisation in Worcester to be submitted by 21 March and a detailed proposal to be made by 28 November 2025.
At last night’s extraordinary meeting of the full Council, councillors backed five principles to be included in the interim plan. Read the resolution in full.
The Leader of Worcester City Council, Councillor Lynn Denham, said: “Devolution of powers from Westminster to local government presents great opportunities but it is vital that we get the right result for Worcester. The principles we have agreed for our approach have received cross-party support and I look forward to developing interim proposals for new council arrangements for our city.
“Worcester City Councillors are committed to protecting Worcester’s unique heritage and identity, and we want to work collaboratively with partners to get to the right result.
“It is vital that the public have their say too, so we will hold a public consultation on the detailed proposals before they are submitted in November.”
The leaders of the City Council’s three political groups – Labour, Green and Liberal Democrats – will now work with officers to develop the interim plan, which will be considered at a meeting of the full Council next month.
