RESIDENTS, businesses and community groups across Wyre Forest and Worcestershire are being urged to have their say on the Local Government Reorganisation.
Government proposals for local government reorganisation will affect all seven councils in Worcestershire, including Wyre Forest District Council, and everyone is being urged to get involved in the public engagement consultation.
A four-week public engagement exercise is running until June 28 to gain feedback to help councillors decide proposals for what should replace the existing councils.
Currently services in Worcestershire are split. Worcestershire County Council provides county-wide services, such as highways and adult social care. Borough, city and district councils such as Wyre Forest District Council provide localised services like waste collections, planning, leisure, and housing related services.
The Government wants to replace this system with a unitary structure where a unitary council will provide all services for a wider area than Wyre Forest. The aim is to make local government simpler for residents, while improving services and saving money.
There are currently two options proposed for Worcestershire:
1. Replace all councils with one unitary council. This would replace the county council and six district/city/borough councils with a single council for the whole of Worcestershire. It would provide all services from collecting waste to school admissions.
2. Replace all councils with two unitary councils. This means the county would be split into two new councils, with one for the north of the county (Wyre Forest, Bromsgrove and Redditch) and one for the south of the county (Wychavon – Droitwich, Evesham, Pershore, Worcester and Malvern Hills). Each council would be responsible for all services in its part of the county.
Town and parish councils will remain but may have a greater role in the future in providing some services and representing local communities.
A dedicated website has been created with more information about the proposals and a survey so people can give their views. Feedback will be used to help decide which of the two options to develop in detail and put to the Government.
Feedback will be used to help decide which of the two options to develop in detail and put to the Government.
Final plans need to be submitted by November 28, 2025.
Coun Marcus Hart, Leader of Wyre Forest District Council, said “Major changes are planned for councils across Worcestershire, and we want our residents to help us piece it together.
“While the District Council has already expressed its support for a single unitary council covering the whole of Worcestershire, we are urging the public, businesses, and community groups to learn more about the Government’s proposals and to have a say on who should deliver the services we rely on every day.”
Visit www.shapeworcestershire.org for more information.
