Forming of parish council suggested for Worcester following local government reorganisation
The deadline for councils to submit their final proposals for reorganisation has passed this week, with a decision expected by the government next year
Worcester should have its own ‘city parish council’ when Worcestershire moves to a unitary system of local government, it has been suggested.
Worcester City Council is currently in charge of services including planning, bin collections and leisure centres.
But those will also fall under the remit of either a county-wide or south Worcestershire unitary council from 2028.
At a full council meeting this week, councillor Adam Scott said a new lower-tier council for the city should be formed, as has been done in other areas that created unitary authorities.
The council could take on non-statutory duties such as hosting events, landscaping and grant-giving, suggested councillor Scott.
“The fact the city will be without its own directly-elected council for the first time is something we should view with caution,” he said.
“It is within this council’s gift to call for a governance review where we look in detail at the structures which would govern the city.”
Councillor Katie Collier said local government reorganisation would also have been the “perfect time to consider electoral reform”.
“Countries with proportional representation have much higher election turnouts,” she said.