Unpacking Worcestershire's Unitary Authority Plans

Where's Worcestershire County Council?

A key question emerged even before the session officially began: "Why isn't Worcestershire County Council involved?" This was a pertinent question, as all six district councils are actively participating in and promoting this consultation process, yet the County Council is conspicuously absent. Naturally, those present were curious about this significant omission.

The reason, we learned, boils down to their non-attendance at meetings and their stated position that, as a new administration, they are "waiting for more information" before engaging. The critical issue with this approach is that there is no more information to be gained at this stage. HM Government has already released its timetable and provided as much detail as they are going to about the process and timelines to the councils and elected members. There's simply nothing further to provide right now – they need to get to the table and get involved.

The Road to a Unitary Authority

Following the announcement in December about local government reorganisation, Worcestershire's councils were tasked with submitting an outline proposal of options by March 21st, which they did. The proposals put forward were for either a single Unitary Authority covering the whole of Worcestershire or a North/South split.

These initial submissions were accepted, and now the councils have until the end of November to develop these proposals into fully fleshed-out business cases. These cases will then be discussed by the elected members of each council, who will decide on their preferred option on a council-by-council basis.

What Happens Next?

If one option emerges as a clear favourite, it will be submitted to the Government as the preferred choice. However, if there isn't a clear consensus or if it's a close call, both options will be submitted, and the Government will make the final decision on which path to pursue. Submissions are currently expected by November 28th.

Once the decision is made, formal consultations will commence to approve the new structure or structures. This will be followed by elections in May 2027 to elect a shadow council. This shadow body will work alongside current elected members to transition the existing County Council to the new authority or authorities, before taking full control in May 2028.

It was made very clear that responsibilities will also be moved down to Town and Parish Councils, this creates an opportunity for decisions to be made at a hyper-local level. There is also potential for Town and Parish Council to take on local (income producing) assets, something that the District Council has been very quiet on. Moreover reserve cash and property investments should benefit the local areas, rather than used to plug the financial black hole at the County Council/ Unitary.  

Your Opinion is Crucial!

This is precisely why your voice needs to be heard. The Shape Worcestershire website is an invaluable resource, serving as a repository of information about the move to Unitary Authority (or Authorities). The accompanying survey is a vital tool for residents to voice their opinions.

Over 2,500 people have already completed the survey, but it only runs until June 29th. The councils have a limited timeframe to conduct engagement events and consultations due to the tight deadlines described above, so making your voice heard now could be absolutely crucial.

Don't miss this opportunity to shape the future of local government in Worcestershire. Visit https://shapeworcestershire.org/ and complete the survey today!