COUNCILLORS in Bromsgrove have decided to keep their options open when exploring how to proceed with the government’s devolution changes.
The town’s representatives joined each other for an extraordinary meeting last Wednesday (March 12) to vote for whether their preferred option for a unitary authority in the county would consist of one council encompassing the entirety of Worcestershire or a split north and south division.
Under the Government’s proposed changes, Bromsgrove District Council, along with the county council and five other district councils, will be abolished. They will be replaced by a single tier of local government delivering all services across Worcestershire.
A fiery debate saw Independent councillor Charlie Hotham urge members to vote for an amendment to stake their claim for a north and south Worcestershire division which would allow
Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest to make decisions separate of Worcester, Wychavon and Malvern.
Coun Hotham said: “The amendment is on the currently available information and leaves the door open for a one Worcestershire council should that turn out to be the only option.
“It is asking us to agree that at this moment in time based on information we have that we prefer a north Worcestershire split.”
Ultimately the council chose not to back the amendment and voted to instruct the chief executive and director of legal democratic and procurement services to enter negotiations with their counterparts across the county to ensure both options are included in the interim plan and further explored.
The interim plan will allow ministers to provide guidance to councils as they develop their final proposals. Feedback will be used to guide the full proposal to be submitted in November, which may include one or both options.
Reservations about making the firm decision came from a lack of data and understanding on the benefits or risks of the alternative options for Worcestershire’s new unitary authority.
Bromsgrove was issued with a independent report carried out by Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) analysing the costs and benefits of each option on the evening before the meeting.
Although the report weighed up different options for the transition, many councillors felt it contained bias and focuses on the county council’s preferred option for one Worcestershire council.
The report concluded a north and south division would cost £16.9 m and present net annual savings of £4.3 m whereas an all encompassing county council would cost £11.9 m and save £20.6 m annually.
Due to these figures, a one Worcestershire council would break even within a year while a north and south division would only recoup its expenses within 11 years.
Keeping their options open, Bromsgrove councillors called for work to begin on understanding which will be the best outcome for Bromsgrove.
Leader of the council, Coun Karen May, added: “I’ve listened very closely and clearly. The reason why we need two options is it validates any decision by this council going forward.
“We need validation, not a feeling, not a preference, a validation behind the data.
“I hope we have a sustainable decision that our residents feel is well informed, based on evidence that leads us to a position where Bromsgrove gets the best outcome for its residents.”
Regardless of preferred options from council’s across Worcestershire, the decision will ultimately come down to the government’s thoughts about the councils’ plans for a vision of the county’s political future.
Visit https://moderngovwebpublic.bromsgrove.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx for more information.
