Devolution debate sees 'super council' plan agreed

The council's leader, Reform's George Finch, hit out at the suggestion of cutting Warwickshire in half

Councillors in Warwickshire have decided they should form a new "super council" and become part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

That was the conclusion of county councillors after four hours of debate at Shire Hall on Tuesday.

Both decisions were the result of split, full council votes as the government's plan to give local areas more decision-making powers through devolution was discussed.

All six councils in the county will disappear by 2028 and the Reform-led county council decided its preference for replacing them is with one, large, unitary authority - although they would also like to see the creation of new town and parish councils.

A final decision on devolution plans for Warwickshire rests with the government.

The Liberal Democrat opposition unsuccessfully pushed for the decision to be for two, separate unitary authorities in the county and did not back joining the WMCA.

Councillors voted 30 to 14 in favour of one large unitary authority and 26 to 14 in favour of supporting a move to join the WMCA.

The combined authority is a group of local authorities including Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley and Wolverhampton, which has devolved powers from the government to make decisions on issues like transport and housing.

Councillor George Finch, the Reform leader of the county council, said the Liberal Democrat position was "trying to divide a county that's strong".

"People in the north are united with the people in the south, united by Warwickshire," he added.

"You're dismissing that, by saying coal is for the north and Shakespeare is for the south - it's all as Warwickshire."

Councillors debated on local government reorganisation plans for four hours at the council's headquarters, Shire Hall

Liberal Democrat councillor George Cowcher referred to an independent report commissioned by the county's six authorities which he believed leaned towards splitting the county in two as being the better option.

He added: "We've got to come up with a solution that best suits people in this county at the moment."

That two-council approach would see Warwick and Stratford merge in the south with Rugby, North Warwickshire and Nuneaton and Bedworth in the north.

So far, Liberal Democrat-controlled Stratford, Green-led Warwick, Tory-run North Warwickshire and Labour-led Nuneaton and Bedworth have all expressed a preference for splitting the county in two.

Labour-led Rugby Borough Council is due to vote on the issue on 19 November.

Liberal Democrat councillor George Cowcher joined the rest of his party in backing a two-council solution for the county

A final decision will ultimately be made by the government with elections for the newly formed council, or councils, to be held in 2027.

The new set-up will then run as a shadow operation until taking full control in 2028.

The office of the West Midlands Combined Authority's mayor, Labour's Richard Parker, was approached for comment.