Councillors back two council solution
Published: 4 September 2025
Wychavon councillors have unanimously backed creating a South Worcestershire Council as one of two new councils to run services in Worcestershire in future.
Under government plans for Local Government Reorganisation, Wychavon, the five other district, borough, and city councils and Worcestershire County Council will be abolished on 1 April 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.
Consultants, funded by the Government, Mutual Ventures were asked to assess both options and the findings were presented to councillors at a meeting on Wednesday (3 September). The report included analysis of the Shape Worcestershire public engagement, which saw 57% of Wychavon residents back the two unitary option with only 22% preferring a single unitary.
The assessment found while a single unitary council for all of Worcestershire could make significant savings, the North and South unitary council option would deliver more effective democratic representation, better meet local needs and empower effective community engagement. Concerns about having to break up large countywide services, like adult social care, could be dealt with through shared service arrangements like those used for regulatory services, planning and housing.
During the debate, councillors expressed frustration with the Government for imposing reorganisation on the area and giving little time to plan properly for the changes. Concerns were raised about whether the proposed cost savings under a single unitary model were realistic, the impact on service quality and provision and Council Tax levels – which on average are lower in Wychavon, Worcester City and Malvern Hills.
A single council for Worcestershire would also mean there would be more than 6,000 residents per councillor, which it was felt would make elected representatives too remote from the people they served and may negatively impact relationships with parish and town councils.
Councillors unanimously voted to recommend to the Government the creation of a South Worcestershire Council (Malvern Hills District, Worcester City and Wychavon Councils) along with a North Worcestershire Council (Bromsgrove District, Redditch Borough and Wyre Forest District Councils). Shared service arrangements will be used to avoid having to break up existing countywide services, unless better services can be delivered more locally.
Cllr Richard Morris, Leader of Wychavon, said: “Nobody asked for reorganisation and nobody wants it. It’s being imposed on us by the Government. It will do little to solve the adult social care and children services crisis which needs national solutions instead of further government dithering.
“If we must have reorganisation, then the two-council option delivers on the very clear message given to us by the public – being local does matter and our residents want a council in future that continues to understand and meet their needs. Wychavon has always focused on that local delivery, and this must not be lost in any reorganisation.
"Exploring shared service arrangements for some of the larger services, such as adult social care, also provides a tremendous opportunity for genuine transformation so they deliver better value and outcomes for all our residents.”
The two-council option will now be developed in detail. Councillors will vote on the final proposal on 19 November, before it is submitted to the Government by 28 November.