Warwickshire County Council's cabinet has approved the submission of a proposal for a single unitary authority to the government, following a full council debate on 14 October 2025. The proposal, detailed in Appendix 1 for Unitary Local Government in Warwickshire Submission of Full Proposals, will be submitted by 28 November 2025. The cabinet also addressed concerns and misconceptions raised during previous discussions, particularly those related to the financial implications and the impact on local communities.

Unitary Local Government Proposal

The cabinet has formally approved the submission of a proposal to the government for the creation of a single unitary authority in Warwickshire. This decision follows a resolution by the full council on 14 October 2025, which supported the single unitary model. Councillor George Finch, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Children & Families, emphasised the importance of securing the best possible outcome for residents through local government reorganisation (LGR) and acknowledged the complexity of the task.

Councillor Stephen Shaw, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, outlined the financial benefits of a single unitary authority, stating that it would deliver £18.7 million in recurring annual net benefits, three times higher than a two-unitary model. He added that over five years, this would result in a £57.1 million net benefit, £68 million more than with two unitary authorities. Councillor Shaw also noted that the transitional costs for a single unitary would be £22.3 million, 30% lower than the £32.1 million for two unitaries. He also stated that:

By investing in further transformation activity, a single unitary scenario could realise 50% additional benefits, which is 40% post-betting compared to two unitary scenarios, rising to additional 60%.

Councillor Wayne Briggs, Portfolio Holder for Education, supported the proposal, highlighting that a single council would ensure a joined-up approach to education, particularly for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Councillor Jennifer Warren, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning, also expressed her support, stating that a single unitary authority would enable more joined-up delivery in areas such as transport and SEND, providing clearer signals to investors and faster delivery of infrastructure and housing projects.

Councillor Dale Bridgewater, Portfolio Holder for Fire and Rescue and Community Safety, emphasised that a single unitary authority would simplify local government structures and deliver more effective services, offering residents a single point of contact. Councillor Rob Howard, Portfolio Holder for Economy, noted that Warwickshire meets the government's criteria for unitary councils, with a population of 630,000, and that a single unitary authority would be best placed to support economic growth.

Councillor Darren Cheshire, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Heritage and Culture, stated that a single unitary authority would maintain improved consistency across the county, particularly in waste services, where it would oversee both collection and disposal. Councillor Michael Bannister, Portfolio Holder for Customer and Localities, said that the Reform UK Group was committed to an evidence-based approach to local government reorganisation, focused on protecting communities and strengthening local democracy.

Concerns and Alternative Views

Councillor Sarah Boad raised concerns about the potential loss of local understanding and representation under a single unitary authority, referencing public consultation feedback in Appendix 3 for Unitary Local Government in Warwickshire Submission of Full Proposals. She reiterated her belief that two smaller unitary authorities would be more locally responsive. Councillor Boad also clarified that she did not believe that the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service¹ would be split in half under a two-unitary model.

Councillor George Finch responded to these concerns, stating that it was important to prioritise residents over politics and to focus on securing the best outcome for the people of Warwickshire.

Town and Parish Councils

Councillor Jennifer McAllister sought clarification on the commitment to town and parish councils, asking whether the commitment to explore the devolution of responsibilities to those councils remained in place. Councillor Michael Bannister confirmed that the administration remained fully committed to town and parish councils, describing them as a valuable resource and emphasising that they were fundamental to reorganisation.

Service Quality and Efficiency

Councillor John Holland raised the importance of improving the quality of services delivered to residents, noting that many issues stemmed from confusion or gaps between the responsibilities of county, district, and town councils. He urged the cabinet to ensure that the improvement of service quality was the primary focus of the submission to government. Councillor George Finch confirmed that the cabinet would prioritise service quality in its submission.

Councillor Edward Harris summarised questions raised by his constituents, including the implications of a north-south split, the operational challenges of disaggregating services, and the cost to the public purse of a two-unitary model. He asked for reassurance that nothing would be lost by absorbing district and borough services into a single unitary authority and asked what gains might result.

Councillor Sarah Feeney suggested that future documentation should include a reflection on Warwickshire's strong and shared identity as a county and urged the cabinet to shift the language of the debate from savings to reinvestment, stressing that any financial efficiencies realised through the creation of a single unitary authority must be reinvested into frontline services.

Previous Mergers

Councillor Richard Dickson asked whether the Leader had consulted with leaders of previous public authority mergers in Warwickshire, specifically the merger between Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police, and the proposed but abandoned merger between Warwick District Council and Stratford District Council, and what lessons had been learned from those experiences. Councillor George Finch responded that the current administration was focused on present and future outcomes for Warwickshire residents rather than past decisions and that he did not have detailed knowledge of the previous mergers.