The Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board met on 17 November 2025 to discuss local government reorganisation in Worcestershire, as well as to review scrutiny chairs' updates, the work programme, and the cabinet forward plan. The meeting was held at Wychavon District Council Offices, in Pershore. Councillors were expected to consider and comment on these topics.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) - One Worcestershire

The board was scheduled to discuss the 'One Worcestershire' Local Government Reorganisation proposal. The report pack included the 'One Worcestershire' LGR proposal, which details the establishment of a single unitary council for Worcestershire. According to the report, the full business case was scheduled for submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by 28 November 2025, with a target vesting day of 1 April 2028.

The report pack noted that the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, signalled a shift in the approach to re-organising local government in England, moving towards a new approach founded on an assumption that significant change is needed across the country to improve local services and to fundamentally change how they are funded to ensure sustainability.

The report pack stated that the One Worcestershire Interim Plan submitted in March 2025 demonstrated that a single council is more sustainable, effective, and efficient compared to dividing the county into multiple councils.

The report pack also included a summary of feedback received from the MHCLG on 3 June 2025, which requested more robust evidence and justification for the proposal, emphasizing:

• Population Size
• Service Impact and Disaggregation
• Collaboration and Data
• Devolution and Boundaries
• Transition Costs

The report pack stated that the proposal has been developed by council officers without direct political involvement, with a focus on what is best for residents and businesses, and how a financially sustainable future for Worcestershire can be secured.

The report pack stated that the structure of the business case has been intentionally designed to show how the One Worcestershire proposal fulfils the key MHCLG criteria outlined in the invitation to two-tier areas.

The report pack summarised the One Worcestershire business case, proposing the delivery of a single unitary authority retaining the footprint of the current and long-established ceremonial county boundary, and supports the continuation of cooperation with statutory, private sector and voluntary partners.

The report pack stated that the One Worcestershire proposal is based on a clear and deliverable financial plan which uses the support provided by government, and that One Worcestershire is expected to be delivering financial sustainability by 2030/31.

The report pack also noted some risks of dividing the current county footprint into two smaller unitary authorities, including that services planned at a population level, such as health prevention, transport and skills will be fragmented in two unitaries.

The report pack included a summary of changes made to the draft published business case for Council on 6 November 2025, including the addition of slides detailing the assumptions which underpin the financial model, particularly focusing on staffing costs and benefits.

The report pack also included the Districts LGR Proposal that was published late on 7 November 2025.

Scrutiny Chairs and Lead Member Update, Work Programme and Cabinet Forward Plan

The Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board was scheduled to receive updates from the Scrutiny Chairs and Lead Members, review its work programme, and consider the Cabinet Forward Plan.

The report pack included the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board 2025/26 Work Programme.

The report pack also included an extract of the Forward Plan 2025.