In December’s VALE MATTERS column, Councillor Craig Reeves, independent member for Harvington and Norton says why he is fully behind the two-council model of local government reorganisation.
By Councillor Craig Reeves
Our local authorities are heading for transformation, and come 2028 our two councils Worcestershire County and Wychavon will be no more. The Evesham Observer reported on this last week in its page 2 article ‘Wychavon backing two-council model in big county shake-up’ which I encourage you to read for the what, how and where.
For me, this local government reorganisation is an opportunity to be bold and creative. To build an authority that is new and robust, and should not be viewed as a £600million bail-out for our debt riddled Worcestershire County council in its current failing form.
The bigger the council, the bigger the issues when the wheels start to come off, which is why I support the North and South option. This direction also aligns with the public consultation held by Wychavon and collaborative District and Borough councils (with Worcestershire County choosing not to be included).
While one large Worcestershire might seem like a simple cost-saver, the North-South model recognises community and representation whilst offering robust efficiencies, and longevity.
As an independent councillor, I believe it’s crucial that we create an environment where a diverse range of people feel encouraged to step forward and run for election.
That also extends to our council officers, ensuring we have a knowledgeable, locally-attuned staff base.
And of course, when party politics gets involved, there’s always a risk that decisions could be made by representatives far from the communities they’re affecting.
By keeping things local, we ensure that the people making decisions actually understand the area they represent.
We also want to protect against the sacrifices that come with one large Worcestershire. That could mean higher council taxes for areas like Wychavon, less localism, and a loss of political diversity. The North-South model helps us keep things balanced and closer to home.
In the end, this is really about making sure Evesham and the surrounding villages have a council that truly understands its residents. The North-South model is about preserving and improving that local link.
It’s not about making things bigger and more distant, but about keeping them close, local, and truly in tune with the people we serve.
And finally, there will be a public consultation in the new year, where residents can share their opinions with the government.
So keep an eye out for that and make sure your voice is heard.
For more information, head over to the Shape Worcestershire site, shapeworcestershire.org that provides data from the combined districts’ public consultation and focus groups and read more about the proposal on the Wychavon District Council site.
