The county’s ruling Tories want to fast-track plans for a unitary authority in response to the Labour government’s devolution white paper published last month.
Council leader Simon Geraghty and chief executive Paul Robinson pitched the unitary idea to district council bosses in a private Zoom meeting before Christmas, but got the support of only one district leader.
But with the deadline for requests for the postponement of the elections – January 10 – looming, Cllr Geraghty and Mr Robinson have written to local government minister Jim McMahon.
In the letter, they say postponing the elections will “give us the time to work with partners and stakeholders to put together proposals for local government reform that are necessary to unlock devolution for Worcestershire”.
READ MORE: Council bosses discuss Worcestershire unitary authority
The council says it has “already identified additional capacity to develop the business case”.
In a statement, Cllr Geraghty said: “This is not optional, the Government could not be clearer that whether we like it or not this is happening, and we are to face the largest change that we have seen to local government in over 50 years.
“We will be required to move to a unitary structure in a relatively short timescale, alongside developing devolution proposals for a Strategic Authority to ensure our residents benefit from devolution.
“It is now incumbent on us to get on with making the change at pace to seize the opportunity to shape our future and work towards a new council to meet the needs of our area – a One Worcestershire Council. This reform is necessary to unlock further devolution for the county, in line with the Government’s longer-term ambitions.
“It is for this reason we have put in a request to Government to postpone elections scheduled for May.
“This will enable us to fully focus on working with partners and stakeholders to work up proposals and seek to implement this on an ambitious timescale to see a new ‘shadow authority’ elected in May 2026 and for all our councils in Worcestershire to end in 2027.”
He said the county council is already responsible for 80 percent of the total local authority in spend in Worcestershire.
“A One Worcestershire Council will give us the best opportunity to create an authority that is more financially sustainable, able to deliver good local services and positively shape and improve the area we all care about.
“What this means for now, is nothing changes in the way we deliver services for our residents and businesses.”