In Warwickshire, there are two options on the table, and with the Government expected to consult on them in February with a final decision due in the summer and autumn, we commissioned articles in our latest edition of C&W in Business looking at both sides.
Monica Fogarty, chief executive of Warwickshire County Council, argued for a single council for the whole of Warwickshire.
She wrote: “Warwickshire stands at a pivotal moment. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is not just a structural change - it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a system that works better for residents and businesses alike.
“There is wide agreement in Warwickshire that there are only two realistic options for LGR: a single unitary covering the whole county or two unitaries (north and south).
“Warwickshire County Council has submitted its proposal to Government, One Warwickshire, Stronger Together, which sets out a clear vision: a single unitary council for the whole county. It is also the only model which we think meets the Government’s six criteria for LGR.
“Creating a new, single, unitary council for Warwickshire provides an opportunity to work more efficiently by combining the best ideas and practices from the six current councils.”
Steve Maxey, writing on behalf of North Warwickshire Borough Council, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Warwick District Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said a two council proposal was the best option.
He wrote: “Councils in Warwickshire spent much of 2025 working on submissions to Government regarding Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
“Final proposals were submitted in November and whilst there are differing views, all councils have worked positively to collaborate, while ensuring vital business-as-usual services are maintained.
“In short, there are two proposals; one for a single council for Warwickshire with a population of over 670,000 by the end of the decade, and two councils – one in the north (North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Rugby) and one in the south (Warwick and Stratford) with populations between 320,000 and 350,000.
“The two-council proposal is supported by four out of the five District and Borough Councils, five out of the six Warwickshire MPs, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Mayor and 73 per cent of the public following a survey.”
