I welcome the Government’s decision to pause its ill-thought-through plans for local government reorganisation in Worcestershire.
I have opposed these proposals from the outset. Wychavon District Council is a well-run, low-tax council, and there was no compelling case for Whitehall to impose this reorganisation from the top down.
The Government’s indecision has already caused real disruption. Councils have spent unnecessary time and money preparing for changes that may now not happen, strategic planning and investment decisions have been affected, and in Worcestershire we have lost good council officers because of the uncertainty.
This also raises wider questions about the Government’s approach to rural communities. Housing targets in Wychavon have nearly doubled, while the council has also had decision-making powers over major planning applications taken away.
I will continue to stand up for Droitwich, Evesham and the villages, and for a system of local government that is accountable, effective and has the support of the communities it serves.
