'We need more social care cash after county split'

The leader of Worcestershire County Council has warned that more government cash needs to be found for social care when unitary authorities take over in 2028.

Councillor Matt Jenkins said that without the extra financial support, a major decision to create the two councils will leave the county "really struggling".

Under the changes in Worcestershire, seven councils will be dissolved and replaced by just two in a north-south split.

The government said it has committed £63m in "capacity funding" to help councils adjust to the changes.

"My biggest concern is around adult services and children's services - they're the two areas that cost us the most money," Jenkins said of the local administration reorganisation.

A new north Worcestershire unitary council will provide all services in Redditch, the Wyre Forest and Bromsgrove, while its southern counterpart will do the same in Worcester, Malvern and Wychavon.

But around 70% of the existing county council's budget goes on adult and children's services, Jenkins stressed.

"The question is, once we split into two, how do we manage those services?," he asked

"It's a big focus of mine because it could cause problems. Both of those services have been going in the right direction.

"All councils that deliver adults and children's services are in the same position as us, and are really struggling to manage them."

Jenkins, from the Green Party, also said he was concerned other council services would similarly suffer.

"The danger is, if these two new councils get formed and adults and children's [services] uses up all the money, then you won't have much left for all the things people really like," he added.

"Unless we get that funding from the government, it's going to be very difficult."

A letter has been sent to all council leaders across Worcestershire detailing the rationale behind the reforms, which affect great swathes of the country.

Steve Reed, local government minister, said he had rejected the suggestion of having just one unitary council for Worcestershire because the northern and southern towns have "different economies, housing pressures, populations and service needs".

He also described the north of the county as "more urban and industrial", and called the southern areas "rural [and] service-based".

Reed also said the split will provide "greater devolution flexibility" in the future - potentially leaving the door open to north Worcestershire seeking greater ties with Birmingham.

The £63m of support for the nationwide council reforms currently includes up to £10m towards social care and public health services.

Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.