THE proposed merger between Stratford and Warwick District Councils will be considered at their cabinet meetings later today, Thursday, December 9.
The committee papers have now been published and the report, ‘Proposal to create a South Warwickshire District Council’ provides comprehensive evidence for elected members and the public on the plans.
The main purpose of the report is to provide sufficient information to support councillors in making a decision on whether to formally submit a request to the Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to create a South Warwickshire District Council.
The report contains several pieces of information including:
· Information about the newly established Joint Arrangement Steering Group
· Information about the establishment of a Programme Team
· Financial disclosure review by the Local Government Association
· Report from the Local Government Association in relation to the additional savings which can be provided through a constitutional merger
· Development of a Programme Risk Register in relation to the merger proposals
· Consultation exercise in relation to the proposal to create the South Warwickshire District Council
· Evaluation of options available to both councils
Councillor Tony Jefferson, Leader of Stratford District Council said: “This is probably the most significant decision that either Council has had to consider since they were established in 1974.
“We have to take this decision recognising that the world has changed massively since 1974. It is now up to us to make the right decision based on the information presented to us.”
Coun Andrew Day, Leader of Warwick District Council said: “It’s encouraging to see that our residents and other stakeholders do see the need for change and clearly support the proposals to merge our Councils.
“This positive feedback underlines the importance of working together to continue to improve our services in a fiscally responsible way.”
A recommendation will be made by both cabinets separately, either to formally request the submission of a business case proposal to the Secretary of State at the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to create a South Warwickshire District Council, or to reject this proposal and this will then be considered by both Councils on Monday, December 13.
