Council leaders urge less 'haste' over devolution

The leaders of several district and borough authorities have urged Warwickshire County Council not to delay May's local elections in an effort to press ahead with plans to merge into one local authority.

In December, the government published a paper outlining plans to give more power to local councils.

But in a joint statement, four council leaders - David Wright (North Warwickshire), Chris Watkins (Nuneaton and Bedworth), Susan Juned (Stratford-on-Avon), and Ian Davison (Warwick) - said they were concerned the county council was acting with too much "haste" in supporting the proposal.

Warwickshire County Council said leader Izzi Seccombe noted "representations made regarding local government reform".

The government is planning a major overhaul of the way local government operates to end "micromanaging by central government", and has invited local authorities to submit expressions of interest.

The county council leader has said she would be asking for a single unitary authority, which would likely involve delaying the local elections scheduled for the spring.

Wright, Watkins, Juned and Davison said they had written to Seccombe urging her not to request any deferral of the elections.

"Instead, we would all wish to urgently enter meaningful, collaborative, and constructive discussions with the existing principal authorities within the county of Warwickshire to help properly consider the options that exist," they said.

"Whilst we as leaders of four districts and boroughs from across Warwickshire collectively welcome the opportunities that devolution may bring to our communities," they added, "we are concerned about the haste... being taken by Warwickshire County Council."

The four described the proposals for devolution as "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to review how local government operates.

"We owe it to our residents, communities, businesses and staff to ensure that this be considered properly," they said.

They also expressed concern over the county council's desire to join the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) once devolution had taken place, highlighting the fact that WMCA mayor Richard Parker had previously suggested that was unlikely.

Inviting the county council to respond to them, Wright, Watkins, Juned and Davison said: "If [it does] proceed with [its] planned submission, then we will be making it clear to the minister of state for local government and English devolution that we do not support the proposal from the county council."

A county council spokesperson said: "The leader notes the representations made regarding local government reform ahead of considering a decision this Friday 10 January."

Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.