The Leader of Warwickshire Council, Councillor George Finch, approved the Council's responses to the Government's statutory consultation on Local Government Reorganisation. This decision was made under urgency procedures due to the tight deadline for submitting responses.

Local Government Reorganisation - Response to Statutory Consultation

The meeting's primary focus was on the Warwickshire County Council's response to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's (MHCLG) statutory consultation on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). The consultation, which ran from 5 February 2026 to 26 March 2026, sought views on proposals for restructuring local government in Warwickshire and neighbouring areas.

Councillor George Finch, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Children & Families, approved the Council's proposed responses, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report Appendix 1 - Local Government Reorganisation Consultation. The decision was made under the Council's urgency procedure, as outlined in Standing Order 18, because any delay caused by the standard call-in process would have prejudiced the Council's ability to respond to the consultation by the deadline.

The Council's preferred option, previously agreed at an extraordinary Council meeting in October 2025, is for a single unitary authority for Warwickshire. The report detailed the Council's responses to seven specific questions within the consultation, strongly advocating for the single unitary model.

The Council argued that a single unitary authority would:

• Optimise Public Services: It would protect the historic county footprint and create a single, cohesive Local Plan, streamlining spatial planning and aligning with housing, transport, and environmental strategies. This model was seen as best protecting the functional economic geography of Coventry and Warwickshire.
• Deliver Better Outcomes: A single council would provide integrated leadership, shared ambition, and shared risk, allowing seamless collaboration between health, police, education, housing, and voluntary sector partners. It would also allow for locally tailored services delivered through neighbourhood teams.
• Enhance Financial Sustainability: The single unitary model was forecast to deliver significantly higher annual net benefits (£18.7m) and long-term transformation savings compared to a two-unitary model. This financial capacity would allow for the protection and reform of essential services, particularly in areas with the greatest need.
• Strengthen Devolution: A single, countywide unitary authority was considered better suited to absorbing and deploying devolved powers in areas such as transport, skills, housing, and economic development, providing a clear voice for Warwickshire in regional and national decision-making.
• Improve Community Engagement: By simplifying governance and clarifying accountability, a single council would enable stronger community engagement and neighbourhood empowerment, building on the 'Community Powered Warwickshire' approach.

In contrast, the Council expressed strong disagreement with the proposed two-unitary model, arguing it would:

• Create Imbalances: The two-unitary model would not meet Government guidance on population sizes, creating imbalances in council tax bases and service demands, potentially disadvantaging the north of the county and risking financial sustainability.
• Disrupt Services: It would necessitate the costly and disruptive disaggregation of countywide services such as adult social care, children's services, education, and public health, weakening consistency and increasing costs.
• Undermine Financial Resilience: Modelling suggested the north unitary would face a material funding gap from day one, leading to potential deficits and entrenching existing inequalities.
• Weaken Partnerships: Splitting the county would weaken strategic leadership, dilute Warwickshire's voice for devolution, and disrupt established partnerships with health, police, and regional bodies.

The report also noted that the County Council's responses were informed by extensive public and stakeholder engagement, including surveys and workshops, which highlighted frustration with the current two-tier system and a desire for simpler governance and more joined-up services.

The decision was formally recorded as: That the Leader approves the Council's responses as set out at Appendix 1 of the report, to Government's statutory consultation on Local Government Reorganisation in respect of the areas listed at paragraph 1.6 of this report.

The meeting concluded at 3:05 pm.