A huge council shake-up will taxpayers more – and could see some areas swallowed up by Birmingham, it is feared.<\/p>\n
It was confirmed this month that two new authorities covering the north and south of the county will replace Worcestershire County Council and the six current districts in April 2028.<\/p>\n
The Worcester<\/a>, Wychavon and Malvern Hills districts will constitute the south, while Wyre Forest, Bromsgrove and Redditch will form north Worcestershire.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Axe attacker who escaped prison ‘caught after taunting police’ on Instagram<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Former local government secretary Steve Reed, who had the job at the time of the announcement, said: “The two councils have been shaped to align to different geographies between the more urban, industrial north and more rural, service-based south.<\/p>\n “It will enable services, partnerships and economic strategies to be better tailored to the distinct needs of each area.”<\/p>\n Mr Reed said that while both new councils would have populations beneath the Government’s original target for unitary councils of 500,000, “that figure has always been a guiding principle, not a fixed threshold”.<\/p>\n He said the two councils would offer “flexibility for devolution”, adding: “Given that a range of potential devolution options are still being considered for the area, this flexibility is important.”<\/p>\n But former Worcestershire cabinet member Mike Rouse suggested that represented a “clear hint (using ministerial jargon) that the north of Worcestershire would be absorbed into Birmingham<\/a> as part of future devolution plans”.<\/p>\n And deputy council leader Adam Kent said: “Clearly they are considering different devolution options for the north than the south.”<\/p>\n