Future of Warwickshire in limbo as councillors back a single new authority, but residents back two
Warwickshire, a county currently made up of six local councils, could be merged into one single authority – despite residents backing calls for a reshuffle into two ‘North’ and ‘South’ areas.
The current system sees six separate autonomous councils, each responsible for services such as healthcare and education, operating in their local area.
These council areas are Warwick District Council (which encompasses parts of the University), Stratford-on Avon District Council, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, North Warwickshire Borough Council, and the overarching Warwickshire County Council.
Two viable options for the future of local government in Warwickshire have been reached: either merging into one large, unitary council, or establishing two unitary authority systems by dividing the county into North and South
Following plans to give local councils more devolved powers, two viable options for the future of local government in Warwickshire have been reached: either merging into one large, unitary council, or establishing two unitary authority systems by dividing the county into North and South.
The latter is a popular idea, with 73% of residents agreeing, according to a recent poll.
However, following debates on 14 October, headed by the Reform-controlled Warwickshire County Council, it seems that a tentative conclusion has been reached that the best course of action is to create one ‘super council’ and become part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
The WMCA is an organisation made up of 18 local councils, including Coventry and Birmingham, that aims to deliver services regionally in the West Midlands.
Leader of the Council, Cllr George Finch, accused the Liberal Democrats, who support a two-council system, of ‘trying to divide a county that’s strong’
Councillors voted in favour of both setting up one large unitary authority and joining the WMCA, the former on a vote of 30 to 14 and the latter on a vote of 26 to 14.
The decision has been a contentious issue, with no clear party lines being drawn.
Leader of the Council, Cllr George Finch, accused the Liberal Democrats, who support a two-council system, of “trying to divide a county that’s strong”.
Liberal Democrat councillor, George Cowcher, hit back arguing that “we’ve got to come up with a solution that best suits people”, referring to an independent report which supports splitting the county into two.
A single unitary authority can be more cost effective and arguably a more practical model, with the opportunity for greater accountability, and a more connected and cohesive approach to the offered services.
The final outcome will be voted on in 2027, and ultimately what happens concerning devolved powers will be at the discretion of the government
However, it does pose questions over how this will impact the identity and culture of local towns.
Finch said that the Liberal Democrat position dismisses that the people of Warwickshire are united, and instead suggests that “coal is for the north and Shakespeare is for the south”.
Furthermore, there are concerns that such centralisation of power will lead to the erosion of local democracy, as decision-making becomes more detached from local communities.
The final outcome will be voted on in 2027, and ultimately what happens concerning devolved powers will be at the discretion of the government.
Only time will tell if this change is a story of success for how local government operates.
Comments (12)
Leave alone! Give the people that pay the Bills a vote on how they want to progress or not. Referendum I say!!
Joining Birmingham would be a disaster!!! I lived in Birmingham!
We must never join the larger West Midlands Unitary Authority for obvious reasons. Labour run council authorities are bleeding money like there is no tomorrow especially Birmingham I don’t want our services cut because of this. Warwickshire County council voted NO last time this was brought up and dodged a Bullet.
Leave what is working well alone, villages and parishes are thriving without having to sacrifice to the ‘big and better’. I live in SUA and we honestly do not want it looking like Birmingham, thank you!
I support the two council options. The County is already divided into North and South as anyone familiar with Local Government has experienced for many years
The One Unitary Option would further escalate this situation and leave the Communities of North Warwickshire more disenfranchised.
Bigger is not better just look at incompetently run Birmingham. We need 4 Councils in cesspit Birmingham to give voters a choice where their votes might count and once one area improves the others would have to catch up or be voted out.
I wonder if the reform majority coincillors have thought ahead to see that if wcc joins wmca ,it will be expected to assume a share of the burgeoning liabilities of the WM city’s liabilities.
The boroughs and districts are not responsible for healthcare and education. Does the author understand local government structures?
This proposed nonsense is a poor idea.
The present system, not without its administration faults is far far better than the proposed 2 division system.
Thinks of the money it will waste!
If it was a good idea then of the larger counties would have been there first like Yorkshire,Aberdeenshire, Northumberland.
Why not North and a South Warwickshire within West Midlands.
Warwickshire county council does not serve the North of the Country well
warwick district council is full of corruption councilors and the mayor are being given funds to collaborate the green party is green in colour not inferested in enviromental issues the party members have intimidated and destroying private housholders properties making their homes impossible to sell. what they are doing to private homes their owners mental health certain items are reported to the police and conveiniently goes missing incidents are logged and private people are not believed. no wonder this country is in the critical condition its in.
I’m totally against removing local power in my rural area to a distant unitary authority. Village life and priorities are as different from cities like Coventry and Rugby as another country! As is obvious by Stratford voting in the Lib Dem’s and Warwick voting in Reform! Poles apart and guess who will suffer from a remote Council!
The current six district councils are not responsible for health and education