Warwickshire County Council has voted to move forward towards a new form of local government in Warwickshire, and today has submitted its Strategic Case for Change to Government.

The report outlines three different options for the reform of local government, with the overwhelming recommendation being that the current two-tier system be dissolved.

This would see Atherstone's authority, which is currently North Warwickshire Borough Council, be dissolved, and amalgamated with a single local government body that encapsulated the whole of Warwickshire.

A full council meeting was held last week where the plan was voted on, and conditions raised before the council could submit their proposal. It was passed with 34 votes for, 14 against, and six abstentions.

The cabinet unanimously approved the recommendation for the proposed unitary body at the end of August.

Today, leader of Warwickshire County Council, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, acknowledged the significance of the step: "Council supported this important move to discuss a new form of local government in Warwickshire to benefit our residents, businesses and communities. We recognise the significance of the issues involved and the various views held and want to initiate conversations about the best possible model for Warwickshire's future.

"Most people agree that we need a simpler structure to improve service delivery, value for money and provide every resident and business with the best possible opportunities in life.

"The time for change is now if we want Warwickshire to be in the best possible position to secure additional powers, resources and investment into the County through the forthcoming Devolution and Recovery White Paper. Our strategic case for change outlines how Warwickshire can deliver better value services to our most vulnerable residents, and help play our part in the region's growth-led recovery post Covid-19."

The council has indicated that it recognises the need for conversations with local residents and all key stakeholders to take place. As well as residents, this will include businesses, universities, the voluntary and community sector, Town and Parish Council and other public sector partners, who thus far have not been consulted.

Additionally, the council will establish a residents' panel to shape and inform proposed changes, and they have invited Warwickshire's District and Borough Councils to conduct this jointly with the County Council. Further information about how residents can get involved will be announced in due course. This comes after the five District and Borough Councils submitted their own report on local government reform.

Cllr Seccombe concluded: "I welcome that Council voted in favour of supporting the submission to Government for local government reform and we remain strongly committed to working with Warwickshire's District and Borough Councils on this important issue.

"This meeting and our submission were not about deciding structures now, it was about beginning a process. The reports published by the County Council and District and Borough Councils both endorse the view that the current model of local government is not sustainable and we will engage widely across Warwickshire. The interests of Warwickshire residents need all councils in Warwickshire to work together, and I have asked them to do so. We must ensure we remain 'One Warwickshire'.

"I want to thank all Councillors for their thoughts and considered views, and for the robust, honest and democratic debate. I am clear that we must value and respect those views and ensure they feed into future thinking."