Telford council chief says Shropshire merger a 'no-go'

Carter said there was a "simple test" - whether residents would see improved services

The leader of Telford & Wrekin Council has said a merger with neighbouring Shropshire Council is a "no-go".

It comes after the government invited all councils in two-tier areas – where there are both county and district councils, and neighbouring small unitary authorities – to set out plans for devolution and reorganisation.

Guidelines from the government said new councils should aim for a population of 500,000 or more.

The Telford & Wrekin unitary authority has a population of 185,600, while Shropshire has 323,600, meaning a merger would take the total just over half a million.

Telford's council leader Lee Carter told the full council on Thursday such a move would not be in the interests of residents.

"The possibility of Telford & Wrekin potentially merging with Shropshire is an absolute no-go, let me be quite clear on that," he said.

"I have no particular care who the messenger is," he said. "There will simply never be a deal to be done."

'Fierce determination'

He listed reasons why he believed Telford & Wrekin was different to Shropshire.

They included "outstanding children's services, free parking and green waste collection, and the lowest council tax in the Midlands".

Carter said he would "undoubtedly have to take part in discussions about local government reorganisation" but his discussions would use a "simple test" - whether residents would see improved services.

"There is nothing in a reunification with Shropshire that offers benefits to our residents", he said.

Carter added the county had previously been split to create the two unitary council areas.

He said: "We are not going back."

Telford council had the 'fiercest determination" to serve the community and set its own budget priorities, Carter said.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.