A major proposal has been submitted to the Government that would abolish Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Warwickshire County Council – along with the other district and borough councils across Warwickshire – replacing them with a brand new “South Warwickshire” authority and its northern counterpart.
The Case for Two New Councils, a detailed business case released by the borough and district councils, argues that the current system is outdated. Instead of one giant council covering the entire county, the report proposes splitting Warwickshire in half to better serve our local needs.
How did we get here?
In December 2024, the Government’s Devolution White Paper set out a clear direction: remaining “two-tier” areas like Warwickshire should move to unitary councils, where a single authority is responsible for most local services.
In response, the Government invited Warwickshire’s councils to submit proposals by November 2025. Four district and borough councils – North Warwickshire, Nuneaton & Bedworth, Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick – jointly commissioned Deloitte to examine different options for reform.
Two main models were assessed:
- A single county-wide unitary council for the whole of Warwickshire, favoured by Warwickshire County Council.
- Two new unitary councils – one for the North and one for the South – which is the option backed in this business case.
This business case is therefore one of two competing visions for the future of local government in Warwickshire. While the four district and borough councils have put forward the “two councils” model, Warwickshire County Council has argued for a single county-wide authority. Rugby Borough Council has taken part in discussions but has not yet formally adopted a preferred option, and ultimately it will be for central Government to decide whether to accept this plan and where to draw the final boundaries.
The Proposal: North vs. South
Under the new plans, the county would be divided into two Unitary Authorities:
- South Warwickshire Unitary: Merging Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District.
- North Warwickshire Unitary: Merging North Warwickshire, Nuneaton & Bedworth, and Rugby.
This means services currently run by the County Council (like roads and education) and the District Council (like bins and planning) would be handled by one single body dedicated to the South.
The Big Picture: Why are they doing this?
The report outlines three main strategic drivers for the change:
- Saving Money: The two-council model is projected to save taxpayers approximately £55 million by 2029/30 through efficiencies.
- Fixing Services: It aims to urgently fix Children’s Services and Special Educational Needs (SEND) provision, arguing that smaller, more local councils can manage these complex services better than a large county-wide body.
- Protecting Identity: The report argues that Stratford has very different needs to Nuneaton. A “South” council allows focus on our rural and tourism-led economy without being diluted by the industrial focus of the North.
The Daily Reality: What changes will you actually see?
Beyond the politics, the business case details seven specific changes that will affect life in Stratford:
1. Local Control of Roads & Potholes
Currently, you pay Council Tax to Stratford District, but Warwickshire County Council handles the roads. This proposal would make the new South Council the “Local Transport Authority.” Decisions on fixing potholes, resurfacing roads, and setting speed limits would be made locally, linking road repairs directly to local housing and planning decisions.
2. The Honeybourne Rail Link
Infrastructure is a major part of the proposal. The business case explicitly mentions that a South Warwickshire council would be better positioned to push for the reinstatement of the Stratford to Honeybourne rail link, a key priority for future sustainable growth in our area.
3. Council Tax Protection
One of the key arguments against a single county-wide council is the cost. The report states that keeping a separate “South” council means we avoid the “low-to-max” tax harmonisation that might happen if we merged with the North. This model aims to avoid big Council Tax increases for Stratford residents.
4. ‘Family Help Hubs’
To fix the struggling Children’s Services, the report proposes creating physical “Family Help Hubs” in local neighbourhoods. These would be a one-stop-shop bringing together social workers, health visitors, and youth support in one building, designed to help families before they reach a crisis point.
5. Digital Care Accounts
For families managing care for elderly relatives, the system is set to be modernised. The Target Operating Model proposes “resident care accounts”. Similar to online banking, this would give residents a digital portal to manage care budgets, book services, and track assessments online.
6. Council House Building
The report explicitly states the new South Council would have a dedicated “Housing Revenue Account” to support the “Government’s house building mission.” This implies a return to active council house building for the South area to tackle our specific local affordability crisis.
7. ‘Area Committees’ to Keep it Local
There is a fear that merging with Warwick might make the council feel remote. To combat this, the proposal includes the creation of “Area Committees”. These would give local towns and rural parishes a direct voice in decision-making, ensuring that money and attention aren’t just focused on Leamington and Warwick town centres.
What stays the same?
For all the talk of structural change, many parts of local life in Stratford would look and feel familiar under the new arrangements.
- Town and parish councils carry on: Bodies such as Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council and parish councils across the district would continue as they are, with their existing roles and responsibilities.
- Police, fire and NHS organisations remain: These services are not being abolished or merged into the new councils. Instead, they would keep working alongside the North and South authorities through existing and new partnership boards.
- Everyday services won’t change overnight: Bin collections, schools and other frontline services would transfer over to the new South Warwickshire Council over a two-year transition period, rather than stopping and starting again from scratch.
The aim, according to the business case, is to make councils simpler and closer to residents while keeping key services running smoothly in the background.
The View from Westminster
The move has received strong backing from our local MP, Manuela Perteghella (Stratford-on-Avon). In a letter of support included in the formal business case, she wrote:
“The case for two councils reflects the distinct character and needs of north and south Warwickshire. A single county-wide structure could not respond effectively to the different challenges and opportunities faced by north and south Warwickshire.”
She concluded by stating she was “certain in the view that this is the right solution for Warwickshire.”
Timeline: When will it happen?
If the Government approves this plan, the transition would move quickly:
- May 2027: Elections for “Shadow Authorities.”
- April 2028: The new South Warwickshire Council officially goes live.
Although the councils have put forward their preferred model, the final decision – including whether to go ahead at all, and how the county is divided – rests with central Government.
What do residents think?
According to the engagement report included in the proposal, residents in our area are largely in favour. Surveys cited in the document show that 79% of Stratford-on-Avon respondents supported the two-unitary model, the highest support rate in the county.
What are your thoughts? Is a merger with Warwick District the right move for Stratford? Let us know in the comments.
