FURTHER analysis of the results of a survey on how local councils across the county should be reorganised has been released.
Residents from across the county made more than 4,700 comments on the proposals as part of the Shape Worcestershire survey, which ran throughout June, and asked for views on Government plans for Local Government Reorganisation.
Several focus groups were also held in each district in Worcestershire to explore residents’ views in more detail.
Under Government plans for Local Government Reorganisation, Worcestershire County Council and the six district, borough, and city councils will be abolished on April 1, 2028.
They will be replaced by either one single council for Worcestershire running all services, or two councils – one for the North and one for the South – with each authority responsible for all services for its part of the county.
The analysis reveals a number of themes amongst residents including finance and costs, service quality, planning, housing and environmental protections, localism and representation and the role of parish and town councils
More information is also given about why people chose their preferred option for reorganisation. In the survey, overall, 48 per cent of people preferred creating two new unitary councils, with 29 per cent one unitary council and 19 per cent supporting no reorganisation at all.
Survey feedback, analysis and other relevant information will be taken into account before the councils formally submit their final reorganisation proposals to the Government by November 28, 2025.
The Government will then decide which option to go forward with.
Councillors in Bromsgrove District, Malvern Hills District, Redditch Borough, Worcester City and Wychavon District will hold special council meetings to choose their preferred options
- Bromsgrove District Council – September 3 at 6pm
- Malvern Hills District Council – September 2 at 6pm
- Redditch Borough Council -September 4 at 7pm
- Worcester City Council – September 2 at 7pm
- Wychavon District Council – September 2 at 6.15pm
Wyre Forest District Council agreed at its meeting on February 26, 2025 to support the case for one unitary council and will consider final reorganisation proposals later in the autumn.
Vic Allison, consultation and engagement lead for Shape Worcestershire, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who gave their time to take part in the survey or the focus groups.
“[Further analysis] clearly shows residents have thought carefully.
“Residents have some very clear priorities and concerns that will need to be addressed by whichever reorganisation option the Government chooses.”
Visit www.shapeworcestershire.org for the full analysis.
