JESSIES BLOG: What Happens If Worcester City Council Disappears? Explaining the Governance Review
With Local Government Reorganisation moving forward, many residents are asking an important question:
If Worcester City Council disappears, will we have a town council? Will we have parish councils? Or will decisions simply move up to a new unitary authority?
Here’s a clear explanation of what is happening and what it means.
Why Is This Happening?
The Government is proposing to replace the current two-tier system (County Council + District/City Councils) with a single unitary authority.
If that happens in Worcestershire, Worcester City Council would cease to exist and its responsibilities would transfer to the new unitary council.
That raises an obvious democratic question:
Who represents Worcester at a very local level if the City Council disappears?
What Is a Community Governance Review?
When a district or city council is abolished, the law allows for a Community Governance Review (CGR).
This is a formal statutory process to consider whether new parish or town councils should be created.
It is not a political motion. It is a legal process governed by legislation and guidance.
The review looks at:
- Whether a new town council should be created for the whole city
- Whether multiple parish councils should be created for different neighbourhoods
- Whether boundaries should be adjusted
- What level of representation is appropriate
What Are the Possible Outcomes?
There are broadly three possibilities:
1️. A Single Worcester Town Council
One town council covering the entire city area, replacing the local democratic role currently carried out by Worcester City Council.
2️. Multiple Parish Councils
The city could be divided into smaller parish councils representing neighbourhoods.
Some areas of Worcester — such as Warndon Villages — already have parish-level governance. Other areas currently do not.
3️. No Parish Layer
If no town or parish council is created, Worcester would be governed only by the new unitary authority, with no separate city-level council.
How the Process Works
The Community Governance Review follows a structured process:
- The review is formally launched.
- Residents, businesses and stakeholders are consulted.
- Draft proposals are produced.
- Further consultation may take place.
- Final recommendations are approved.
No decision has been made yet.
The purpose of the review is to gather views and evidence before any final decision is taken.
What Would a Town or Parish Council Do?
Town and parish councils are the most local tier of government. They can:
- Manage community buildings
- Oversee parks and open spaces
- Provide local grants
- Support community initiatives
- Represent neighbourhood interests
They are funded through a parish precept, which appears as a small additional amount on Council Tax.
Whether Worcester should have this additional layer is precisely what the review is designed to consider.
Who will make the decision
The final decision will be made by the Auditing and Governance Committee in consultation with a working group made up of the members of said committee and other city and parish councillors who have volunteered to be part of the working group.
In our group, Jessie is the only member of the auditing and governance committee, and Mel and John have volunteered to be part of the working group.
In addition, the council has also invited 2 members of each parish council to join the working group.
Why I Am Not Expressing a View at This Stage
As a member of the Audit & Governance Committee, I have a specific responsibility in relation to this process.
The Community Governance Review is a statutory process that must be carried out lawfully, fairly and without predetermination.
Members who will ultimately be involved in considering recommendations must avoid giving the impression that they have already reached a firm conclusion before consultation has taken place.
For that reason, it would not be appropriate for me to publicly advocate for or against a specific outcome — whether that is one town council, several parish councils, or no change — while the review is ongoing.
My role at this stage is to ensure:
- The process is robust.
- The consultation is fair.
- The law is followed properly.
- Residents are given a genuine opportunity to shape the outcome.
There will be a time for debate once consultation has concluded and formal proposals come forward.
But it would be wrong — and potentially legally problematic — to prejudge the outcome before residents have had their say.
What Happens Next?
Residents will be able to:
- Submit views during consultation.
- Support or oppose different models.
- Ask questions about cost, governance and representation.
This is an important decision about Worcester’s future structure.
And it should be shaped by the people who live here.
JJ.