NEWS: Malvern Hills councillors make major decision on Local Government Reorganisation 

Malvern Hills councillors have made a major decision about how councils across Worcestershire should be run in the future. 

Under Government plans for Local Government Reorganisation, Worcestershire County Council and the six district, borough, and city councils will be abolished on 1 April 2028.  

They will be replaced by either one single council for Worcestershire running all services, or two councils – one for the North and one for the South – with each authority responsible for all services for its part of the county. 

At a meeting last night (Tuesday), Malvern Hills District Council voted to support the option of two unitary councils.  

Following this meeting, a detailed final proposal will be developed which will go to Council for approval on 18 November. It will then be submitted to the Government in time to meet the deadline of 28 November. 

The councils in Bromsgrove, Redditch, Worcester, and Wychavon will also be meeting this week to make their own choices from the two available options.  

Once the Government has approved the model for reorganising councils in Worcestershire, elections will be held in May 2027 for a ‘shadow’ authority or authorities, which will guide the setting up of the new council structure.  

The new unitary authority or authorities will then take over local services in April 2028. 

Cllr John Gallagher, Leader of Malvern Hills District Council, said: “After much deliberation, councillors made the decision to support the option of two unitary councils. This has not been taken lightly, and we have listened to the opinions and concerns of our residents. How our councils will deliver essential services- from bin collections to benefits- will soon change forever. We will keep residents updated as much as we can along the way”.  

In June this year, Bromsgrove District, Malvern Hills District, Redditch Borough, Worcester City, Wychavon and Wyre Forest District Councils, gathered feedback from residents to help councillors with their decision. 

The Shape Worcestershire public engagement exercise ran for four weeks and the results of which were considered by specialists Mutual Ventures as part of their full appraisal. 

Mutual Ventures were engaged by the five councils to provide an objective and evidence-based appraisal of the different options. 

More information about the results of the consultation can be found at www.shapeworcestershire.org/. 

Date published: 3 September 2025