The plans - just one of a series of cost-cutting options being considered by the councils - would see the councils remain as separate entities in democratic terms while employing a single workforce.
Unions have already raised the warning flag over the proposals, fearing hundreds of job losses. Council chiefs say that if - and at the moment it is a big if - the plans came to fruition job losses would be kept to a minimum.
Fewer jobs would be inevitable though, with the removal of duplicated roles, be they chief executives or binmen.
We have two points to make about this proposal at this early stage. Firstly, it should not take the leaking of documents to this newspaper for it to become public. A plan such as this has such far-reaching effects that it should have been placed in the public arena at an embryonic stage.
Secondly, we think the idea has merit. South Worcestershire, in particular, has three relatively small district councils all doing essentially the same jobs. Closer ties or even mergers make sense.
We would go further and suggest that the idea of a unitary authority for the county - or perhaps one each for north and south - should again be on the agenda. What is important is that these discussions should not take place behind closed doors.
As council tax payers, we all have a right to take part in the debate.
Discuss this and other political matters in the 'Politics in Worcester' section of our Your Say forums here.8:05am Monday 12th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: nigel, worc on 8:45am Mon 12 May 08
This idea is nothing new. It has been the dream of some in local authority for many years for this to happen and has certainly been discussed at many levels.
This idea is nothing new. It has been the dream of some in local authority for many years for this to happen and has certainly been discussed at many levels.
Posted by: commonsense, Worcester on 9:33am Mon 12 May 08
It is very hard to imagine, whatever the outcome of these negotiations, how the number of binmen could be reduced. There will be no reduction in the number of bins to be emptied!
It is very hard to imagine, whatever the outcome of these negotiations, how the number of binmen could be reduced. There will be no reduction in the number of bins to be emptied!
Posted by: chippie, Worcester on 10:05am Mon 12 May 08
I wonder how long this debate will go on - people get fed up with Council issues taking so long to happen.
I wonder how long this debate will go on - people get fed up with Council issues taking so long to happen.
Posted by: Tim, Worcester on 11:25am Mon 12 May 08
It's just another way the council wastes our money instead of spending it on something useful. A bit like the new city council logo!!! At the end of the day they will probably spend far more that they actually save. I wonder what the next great idea will be...
It's just another way the council wastes our money instead of spending it on something useful. A bit like the new city council logo!!! At the end of the day they will probably spend far more that they actually save. I wonder what the next great idea will be...
Posted by: local resident, worcester on 11:36am Mon 12 May 08
If they must merge with anyone why not Wychavon, perhaps the City Council would learn to manage their money as well as this council obviously does!!
If they must merge with anyone why not Wychavon, perhaps the City Council would learn to manage their money as well as this council obviously does!!
Posted by: Harry Wilson, Worcestershire on 12:33pm Mon 12 May 08
I wonder if any senior staff at either of these two councils were planning to retire soon - this way they can be made redundant (which nice pay-offs from the taxpayer) - I smell a rat here.
I wonder if any senior staff at either of these two councils were planning to retire soon - this way they can be made redundant (which nice pay-offs from the taxpayer) - I smell a rat here.
Posted by: Hammers, Worcester on 3:32pm Mon 12 May 08
As long as their monthly pay packets keep coming, I don't suppose the staff care who pays them, mention job losses and they will have a fight on their hands!
[bold]Harry Wilson[/bold] the rat you can smell is probably something to do with fortnightly collections!!!
As long as their monthly pay packets keep coming, I don't suppose the staff care who pays them, mention job losses and they will have a fight on their hands!
Harry Wilson the rat you can smell is probably something to do with fortnightly collections!!!
Posted by: Andrew Guy, Whittington on 9:29pm Tue 13 May 08
Didn't we have a bigger county council (Hereford & Worcester) until only recently? If I remeber right it was split in two because it was too big... split, merge, split, merge, split, merge... a week is a long time in politics. The goldfish that run this country cannot be expected to remember what they said five minutes ago, let alone what they voted to do more than one electoral term in the past. Besides, a single council for South Worcestershire would be true-blue Tory from Tenbury to Honeybourne. Labour votes in Worcester would become an irrelevance.... which would not be a good outcome for democracy and would lead to unnecessary conflicts between city and country folk.
Didn't we have a bigger county council (Hereford & Worcester) until only recently? If I remeber right it was split in two because it was too big... split, merge, split, merge, split, merge... a week is a long time in politics. The goldfish that run this country cannot be expected to remember what they said five minutes ago, let alone what they voted to do more than one electoral term in the past. Besides, a single council for South Worcestershire would be true-blue Tory from Tenbury to Honeybourne. Labour votes in Worcester would become an irrelevance.... which would not be a good outcome for democracy and would lead to unnecessary conflicts between city and country folk.
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