A PROPOSAL to create a South Worcestershire unitary council is set to be considered by Worcester City Council.
The plan would see the new authority created alongside another for North Worcestershire.
On Tuesday November 25 councillors will vote on whether to submit the document, to the Government before the deadline of November 28.
The 158-page document has been put together in collaboration with Bromsgrove, Redditch, Malvern Hills and Wychavon councils.
Those councils are also taking the document to their councillors for approval over the next two weeks.
It sets out a two-council proposal for the future of local government in Worcestershire – Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest to the North, and Malvern, Worcester and Wychavon in the South. Some services, like social care, would run across the whole area.
Worcester City Council Leader Coun Lynn Denham said: “The five district councils have worked together really well to develop this shared vision, with cross-party support. Each Leader will be presenting this to their council colleagues before the end of the month.
“We’ve got an exciting vision to truly transform local government in Worcestershire, putting our residents at the heart of the services we provide to them.”
The proposal has been compiled in response to the Government’s requirement for Local Government Reorganisation, that is due to bring in major changes to local councils from April 2028.
Coun Denham added: “The north and south model is the only Worcestershire proposal that captures and considers genuine engagement and feedback from stakeholders throughout the entire process.
“We have listened to residents, local communities, businesses and stakeholders and prepared a robust, viable and deliverable vision for the future of local government services in Worcestershire.”
The final submission comes after the five authorities considered an objective, evidence-based appraisal, which explored factors including costs, population distribution, economy, democracy, and local identity, back in September.
It has been developed following June’s Shape Worcestershire public engagement exercise, which saw 62.5 per cent of respondents favouring a two-council model.
In response, the five Councils agreed to work together to submit a proposal for that option.
A separate alternative proposal, which would create a single unitary council for the whole of Worcestershire, is also due to be submitted to the Government by Worcestershire County Council.
Visit www.worcester.gov.uk to view the proposal and www.youtube.com/worcestercitycouncil to watch the full meeting streamed live, starting at 7pm.
