Two-council plan for county lodged with government

The proposal would see north and south unitary authorities created in Warwickshire

Four councils in Warwickshire have formally submitted a proposal to create two unitary authorities in the county.

The plan, backed by Nuneaton and Bedworth, North Warwickshire, Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon councils, would replace the county's six authorities with one in the north and one in the south.

The four councils said it would provide a "balanced, future-facing model" which was "simple, strong and sustainable".

It came after Warwickshire County Council and Rugby Borough Council backed a proposal for a single unitary authority.

Warwick District Council leader Ian Davison said the north-south plan, which was submitted to the government on Thursday, would deliver the best outcome for residents.

"The two unitary model respects the real identities between north and south Warwickshire, while ensuring both areas have the scale, resilience and strategic capacity to deliver excellent services," he added.

Warwickshire County Council backed a plan to form a new "super council" to cover the entire county in October, which later received support from Rugby Borough Council.

Currently, the county is run via a two-tier local authority system, with Warwickshire County Council as the upper tier.

Warwick, Rugby, Nuneaton and Bedworth, North Warwickshire and Stratford-on-Avon councils make up the lower tier.

In February, the government told all councils in two-tier areas to submit proposals for a move to unitary systems as part of local government reorganisation plans.

It would mean one council being responsible for all local authority services in each area, including planning, rubbish and recycling collections, libraries and education.