WORCESTERSHIRE’S council reorganisations will go ahead as planned after a legal review – but have been pushed back by 12 months.
The new North Worcestershire, made up of Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest districts, and South Worcestershire, comprised of Malvern Hills, Redditch, and Wychavon, councils will proceed as announced by former communities secretary Steve Reed earlier this year.
The proposals, alongside those of several other counties around the UK, were put on hold in September in light of legal advice.
However, local government minister Jim McMahon said that ministers had found the original criteria for the reorganisations were ‘robust’.
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Mr McMahon said: “These decisions are for the same council structure that was previously announced in July, but they are new decisions following full and thorough consideration.”
Alongside Worcestershire, the proposals for East Sussex, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire would continue as planned.
Following the announcement, the seven leaders of Worcestershire’s council released a join statement.
It said: “The Government is minded to implement a North and a South Worcestershire by April 2029; however, we won’t get confirmation of this until before Christmas.
“While this does not provide full certainty immediately, the Government reaffirming their original decision in July, along with our preparatory work, puts us in a strong position to respond to the Government’s decision.
“We now look forward to moving forward and remain committed to continuing to provide services to our residents while focussing on delivering the best possible outcomes for our communities across Worcestershire.”
The plans for a north-south divide in the county were supported by Worcester, Wychavon, Malvern Hills, Redditch and Bromsgrove district councils, while Wyre Forest district and Worcestershire County councils backed a ‘one Worcestershire’ plan to create a single authority for the entire county.
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Due to delays created by the review, the 2027 local elections will take place on existing boundaries.
This means both Malvern Hills and Wychavon districts will hold elections next May.
The shadow council, a precursor to the new authorities, was due to be voted in next year.
This has now been pushed back to May 2028, ahead of the new councils being established in 2029.
15 other areas across England remain under review, with Mr McMahon estimating an outcome will be delivered by the beginning of 2027.
