A PLAN is being drawn up for the establishment of a single-unitary authority in Warwickshire.
Members of Warwickshire County Council have until March 21 to submit an interim plan to the government on how it plans to streamline services.
A deadline of November 28 has been set for the submission of the final full proposal.
At a recent meeting councillors agreed to the key points which will under pin the development of their proposal for a new authority that will see the scrapping of district and borough councils in the area and a single-unitary authority set up in its place.
It comes following the government’s publication of the English Devolution White Paper on December 16 last year which set out ambitions for both devolution and local government reorganisation.
On February 5 the minister of state for local government and English devolution wrote to the leaders of the six councils in Warwickshire to invite them to develop a joint submission proposing local government reorganisation in the county.
WCC has committed to engaging with district, borough, town and parish councils, and communities in developing proposals. And a cross-party working group will be established to support this work.
WCC leader Coun Izzi Seccombe said: “I am pleased that, as a council, we have had the opportunity to discuss this today and for elected members to share their views.
“There was collective agreement from councillors to establish a cross-party working group, recognising the benefits of harnessing the contributions and constructive challenge that it will bring.
“We are working to tight timescales, with government’s deadline of March 21 just a few weeks away. That means we will need to work swiftly and collaboratively and with the wellbeing of residents at the very heart of our discussions.”
Earlier this month WCC heard its bid to be among the first six councils to set up a single unitary authority had been rejected. This would have seen this May’s local elections delayed to allow the council time to put together an action plan.
The local elections will now go ahead as planned and WCC will be considered for devolution in the next wave of submissions.
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has said she wants to see unitary councils in every area across the country by the end of the parliament.
