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If you have any questions about the consultation please visit the Government’s Worcestershire Local Government Reorganisation web page on GOV.UK.

If you have a question about Local Government Reorganisation in Worcestershire that isn’t covered in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section, then please contact your local council using the links below:

FAQs

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) people asked during the Shape Worcestershire engagement in June 2025. We have updated the answers now more information is available.
Will my Council Tax go up
We can’t say for definite as this will be a decision for the new unitary council(s). However, there will be a need to harmonise Council Tax payment levels between the different councils when they merge together, regardless of which proposal is chosen. The finance section of each proposal provides more information how what the estimated increase in Council Tax could be.
Will the services I use —like bin collections or social care—change?
Up until 1 April 2028 nothing will change. Your bin will still be collected and social care services will continue. All councils across Worcestershire are committed to ensuring there is minimal disruption to services for residents. After the new council(s) take over, then will be changes to the way services are delivered or who provides them. The Government's aim is to improve services by delivering them in a more joined-up way, so they’re easier to access and better value for money. The aim of the Transforming Worcestershire proposal is to use the change to shift from crisis to prevention and deliver changes and improvements through working in different ways.
Will I still be able to contact my local council easily?
Yes. Whether there’s one new council or two, you’ll still have clear ways to get in touch—by phone, online, or in person. Local access points will still be available. You will still be able to get in touch with your existing district/city/borough council and the county council up until 1 April 2028.
What happens to local councillors?
If the structure changes, there would be new elections to choose councillors for the new council(s). These will likely take place in May 2027 to elect people to a shadow council, which will then make preparations to take over services from 1 April 2028. There will be fewer councillors than now under either proposal.
Will my town or community lose its identity
No. Even if councils merge or change, towns and parishes keep their names, history, and community feel. Local priorities will still be important. The name of your district/borough/city councils will change however, to be either part of a single Worcestershire Council or a North/South Worcestershire Council.
Will schools or education support be affected?
Not directly. Education will still be managed locally. Reorganisation could help by making planning across school places, transport, and support services more joined up.
What about housing and planning?
Planning and housing decisions will still be made locally but the system could be simplified. Planning for new housing could be delivered more effectively and strategically across a wider area. This already happens in South Worcestershire where one local plan covers three council areas.
What will happen to adult social care?
Adult social care services will continue. Reorganisation aims to improve services like social care by removing confusion about which council does what, and making health, housing, and support services work more closely together.
Will there be job losses at existing councils?
Yes. Whether there is one or two unitary councils, fewer senior managers will be needed than in the current seven councils. Some other jobs may be reduced to save money and avoid duplication. The focus will be on protecting frontline services and delivering better outcomes for residents.
How much money could this save?
Full details of the potential savings from LGR can be found in the financial section of each proposal.
How much will it cost and how long will it take for the savings to pay the cost of 'devolution' back?

Full details of the potential savings from LGR can be found in the financial section of each proposal.

In terms of the benefits of devolution – we don’t know the answer to that at this stage. It will depend how devolution is delivered in Worcestershire and what the offer is from the Government in terms of extra investment and additional powers.

How will allotments across the entire area be managed?

There are currently different arrangements for managing allotments across the county. Some are the responsibility of town and parish councils and some are overseen by borough, city or district councils.

Where allotments are managed by parish or town councils there is likely to be no change to the current arrangements. Where they are managed by borough, city or district councils we do not have that level of detail at the moment.

It would be something for the new unitary council/councils to decide.

I cannot see what role parish councils have in this scheme. Please explain - are these to be abolished?

Parish and town councils are not directly affected by the Government's proposed reorganisation of local government.

They will continue in their current form. However, there will be opportunities - should parish or town councils wish to take them - to play a stronger role in providing some services and representing their communities. You can find out more about the Transforming Worcestershire proposal will empower communities – including town and parish councils – here.

In terms of their name, parish boundaries etc - none of that will change as a result of the reorganisation process.

Are we going to end up with a Mayor?

It is the Government's intention that every area should have a strategic combined authority with a strong preference for these to have directly elected mayors.

More information can be found on the devolution page.

Have the electorate been made aware of this when they have been voting locally?

There was widespread publicity in the local media about the fact the Government intended to reorganise local government when the decision was announced towards the end of 2024. Some councils also issued their own position statements through their communication channels.

Unfortunately, I can't tell you if political parties mentioned reorganisation during election campaigning as we don't have access to that information and it's a decision for each individual political party or candidate to choose what they campaign on.

Has your council allocated or estimated future expenditure to pay external consultants/advisers to work on your/joint council reorganisation proposals? If so, how much and over what timeframe?

Bromsgrove District, Malvern Hills District, Redditch Borough, Worcester City and Wychavon councils have commissioned external support in the period leading up to the submission of proposals to Government in November 2025.

The first phase of this work is an options appraisal with a potential second phase for support in the development of proposal(s). The price for phase one of this project is £63,850 including expenses and excluding VAT.

INSERT SPEND ON PHASE 2 HERE

We do not have information about how much Worcestershire County Council and Wyre Forest District Council spent on developing their proposal. You will need to request that information from them directly.

Please note, the Government allocated £257,837 as a contribution towards proposal development in Worcestershire.

If district councils are scrapped who will take over their services, such as car parks, Bewdley Guild Hall, the museum, and jubilee Gardens?

The expectation is all services currently operated by the existing borough, city and district councils – including those you mentioned – will be transferred over to the new unitary council or councils. It may be that some assets could transfer to other organisations such as the relevant town or parish council instead where this can be agreed.

I note there will be a 'shadow' council elected in May 2027. Will this body be elected by voters or by existing county councillors? Will this also mean that the current councillors for Worcestershire County Council will no longer hold office, or that the two bodies will operate in tandem until the 'old' council finishes its term in 2029?

The Shadow Council (or councils if the decision is to go with two unitary councils) will be democratically elected by voters in the usual way. Elections to the shadow council will likely be held in May 2027. Those elected will then take charge of the new unitary council once it officially comes into being - likely to be 1 April 2028.

The county council and the six city/borough/district councils will continue to operate services until the new council takes over. The shadow council will exist in the background. It will be busy setting the new council's constitution, appointing a chief executive, a senior leadership team, approving staff structures etc and making other policy decisions needed to ensure the handover goes smoothly.

Can you please provide the current financial position of Worcestershire County Council and the six district councils reserves /deficits?

This information can be found in the financial section of the Transforming Worcestershire proposal or in the Statement of Accounts for each council using the links below:

How is consistency going to be maintained? Will councillors need to be voted in again? Skill sets will be lost. It may appear more efficient but will it be effective. How will the value of local knowledge be maintained?

Yes, elections will be held for the new unitary council (or councils). Elections are expected in May 2027. Those elected will take responsibility for running the new council(s) from 1 April 2028. It will be up to political parties and individuals to present a mix of experienced and new candidates—and ultimately for voters to decide who they wish to elect.

Maintaining local knowledge is a priority. Work is underway to ensure that experienced staff, local insight, and established networks are not lost. This will be achieved through a mix of staff retention, knowledge-sharing processes, and careful design of the new council(s) structure, building on experience of reorganisations elsewhere.

All councils involved are already working closely with staff to offer support and training to help as many people as possible transition into the new council(s).

With the two options, will the assets and liabilities also be combined for all the authorities combined together?
Yes. Assets and liabilities of the current councils will be transferred into the new unitary council or councils.
When we move to strategic authorities how will the finances be combined? I am concerned about issues with nearby authorities such as Birmingham.

Birmingham City Council is a unitary authority and is facing financial challenges. The West Midlands Combined Authority, with a West Midlands Mayor, sits above that council and covers the metropolitan area of the West Midlands (Black Country, Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry). The financial position of Birmingham does not affect Worcestershire.

Under the proposals for Worcestershire the unitary council(s) will be the equivalent of Birmingham City Council, but much smaller in terms of the population they serve. Arrangements for a new strategic/combined authority in this area are still being considered and there are various options. Please see the about devolution page of the website for more information.

If a new combined/strategic authority needs to be created for all or part of Worcestershire, it will be a new entity with no legacy organisation to take over from. It will be funded through government grants, money for specific projects through devolution deals and they will also be able to set their share of the Council Tax bill on top of what the new unitary council(s), parish/town councils, fire and police ask for. Finances, liabilities, assets from the existing Worcestershire councils will transfer to the new unitary council(s), not the strategic/combined authority. So, it essentially gets to start life with a blank sheet.

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