THE LEADERS of the Liberal Democrat and Green Party groups at Wychavon District Council have written to the Minister for Local Government stating their opposition to the proposed postponement of May’s county council elections.
In the correspondence to Jim McMahon MP, councillors Dan Boatright-Greene (Lib Dem, Pershore) and Julie Tucker (Green, Evesham South) voice concerns the matter had not been debated by elected representatives either at county or district level, nor had there been any consultation with the public.
The development comes after Worcestershire’s Conservative leader Simon Geraghty wrote to the minister in January requesting to postpone the elections following the publication of the government’s devolution white paper in December which recommended areas have unitary authorities in order to streamline local government and deliver better services.
Their joint letter said: “We recognise the government’s white paper sets a clear direction of travel but any changes must be carefully considered, transparent, and inclusive, ensuring all stakeholders have the opportunity to help shape the future governance of Worcestershire.
“Our objective is to get this right for the people of Worcestershire. That requires time and dialogue, not rushed decisions without serious consideration of all of the issues.”
It also raised concerns the county council was not in a position to lead on this task at this stage having already asked the government to borrow cash to plug a hole in the 2025/26 budget – a £77.2million deficit which it plans to run over the next two years.
It also suggested having no permanent building, the council was lacking the resources and focus to lead a successful transition to a unitary authority at this present moment.
In response, the leader of Worcestershire County Council, Coun Simon Geraghty, told the Observer the government had signalled the end of two-tier governance and therefore district and county councils would be abolished.
He said: “It is essential to emphasise this is not optional – the government could not be clearer that, whether we like it or not, this is happening.
“We will be required to move to a unitary structure in a relatively short timescale with full proposals being submitted in either May or September.
“We have responded to the government proposing a Worcestershire Unitary Authority, as this is in line with their criteria of 500,000 residents or more.
“It is for the government to decide if elections are postponed to enable us to fully focus on engaging with residents, as well as working with partners and stakeholders to work up proposals and seek to implement this on an ambitious timescale.
“This would see elections in May 2026 to the new ‘shadow authority’. Most other county councils have responded to the government in a similar way.”
In December Mr McMahon wrote to all leaders of two-tier councils to invite proposals for their reorganisation into a unitary authority with interim plans to be submitted by March.
Worcestershire has joined Warwickshire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire county councils which have also requested postponing elections from 2025 until 2026.
