Public consultation begins on proposal to create a South Warwickshire Council

Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils are considering a proposal to merge, creating a new District Council covering the whole of South Warwickshire (the areas currently covered by Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils).

The public consultation on the plans to create a South Warwickshire Council starts this week on Monday 6 September and runs until Sunday 24 October.

Have your say! Local residents, businesses, Town and Parish Councils, local groups and organisations and key stakeholders are encouraged to take part and have their say by completing the online questionnaire.

Cllr Tony Jefferson, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: "This is an extremely important consultation that relates to the future of both Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils.

"Both Councils face significant financial challenges - the impact of dealing with the pandemic, when combined with the increased costs of delivering existing services, such as waste management, as well as responding to the climate emergency. We have to recognise the undeniable fact that the world has changed in ways we could not have envisaged and we need to adapt to those changes.

"We also need to consider the positive opportunities that combining Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils to create a South Warwickshire Council will bring.

"It is vitally important that before the Councillors come to a decision, we hear the views of the wider community on whether you believe a merger is the right option to take or not. So please get involved and have your say."

Cllr Andrew Day, Leader of Warwick District Council says: "As much as the pandemic has been a crisis for us, it has presented a challenge and an opportunity for us to re-imagine what local government services in South Warwickshire might be like in the future.

"We need to hear your views - we need to listen and respond to what our residents want.

"Please take the time to carefully reflect on the questions, tell us what you think the future for local government in this area should be so that we can build a vibrant, new, agile and strong Council to serve you."

How to take part
The consultation document and online questionnaire can be viewed and completed at: https://www.southwarwickshire.org.uk/

Questionnaires for completion on paper, as well as in different languages and formats can be requested by emailing: swconsultation@stratford-dc.gov.uk or calling 01789 267575. The paper questionnaires are returned using a FREEPOST address.

Questionnaires are also available to pick up at the following locations:

• Stratford-upon-Avon - District Council's offices at Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford-on-Avon, CV37 6HX
• Warwick - Visitor Information Centre, Jury Street, Warwick CV34 4EW
• Leamington - Town Hall, the Parade, Leamington Spa, CV32 4AT
• Kenilworth - Kenilworth Library, Smalley Place, Kenilworth CV8 1QG
• Whitnash - Whitnash Library, Franklin Road, Whitnash CV31 2JH

What happens next?
The findings from the consultation will be considered, along with any other evidence, at a meeting of the councils on 13 December 2021. A decision will be taken as to whether they want to formally ask government to allow the councils to merge.

The deadline for the survey is Sunday 24 October 2021.

Why we are doing this?
Both Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick councils are facing a very uncertain financial future.  Government funding for all councils has reduced in recent years and it is estimated that both councils will have shortfalls increasing to around £4-6m per year by 2025/26.

Across the two councils this means that annual savings of around £10m each year are needed over the next five years. This level of annual savings is about one-third of the combined costs of the councils.

Whilst some financial reserves are held by both councils these have already been reduced by the impact of COVID and are largely ear-marked for essential future expenditure.  It would not be prudent or financially sustainable to use these reserves to supplement annual running costs.

Faced with this financial pressure, and with a determination not to reduce the current level of services, both Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils have been exploring several options, including:

• Do nothing
• Each council attempts to reduce costs individually
• Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils begin to share some services
• Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils merge together
• Some new unitary government solution

The Councils believe that merely sharing some services does not make sufficient financial savings and still leaves considerable duplication.

Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils are therefore considering a proposal to merge, in which case a new District Council would be established covering the whole of South Warwickshire (the areas currently covered by Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils).

The Councils have appointed Opinion Research Services (ORS), an independent social research company, to manage the consultation and objectively report the outcomes.

As well as the public questionnaire the research agency, ORS, will be undertaking a telephone survey with a sample of residents selected to match the profile of both districts. Focus groups will also be held with residents, again matching the profile of both districts. There will also be focus groups with businesses, Town and Parish Councils, plus voluntary and community groups.