Rugby MP's column: Have your say on Local Government Reorganisation

What would you do if you had a kettle that wasn’t working quite as well as it should? Would you try to fix it? Would you replace it? Or would you sit on your hands for thirty years and tell everyone it’s fine as it is? All the while, people who visit your house have to make do with cold coffee and tepid tea.

In many ways that’s where we find ourselves with Local Government. At the moment locally we have both a borough and a county council. As an MP this means I often have to spend time asking two different bodies questions about the same constituents or issues.

One of the most ridiculous examples is that the Borough Council handles bin collections, but Warwickshire County Council manages waste, tips, and recycling. Forget the kettle analogy because the whole house is upside down, and you don’t know whether the bin is in the kitchen or the garden. Reorganisation is the only sensible way forward.

The Labour Government in 1997 identified that the overly complex and inconsistent number of layers of Local Government didn’t work.

So, the can, or kettle, has been kicked down the road. We all agree it’s not quite right. But until now no one has stepped up and acted. As you may have noticed these changes can be difficult and controversial. That’s why I am glad to see our Government take up this challenge.

This Government wants to devolve power, resources and responsibility to local people. And that process is now underway, but what is up for consultation is the geographical nature of the unitary authority.

Combining the two levels makes sense, no matter the outcome. It reduces confusion and often stops duplication, saving us all money.

Both levels of council require their own offices, management teams, and support services, all funded by the same taxpayers. Many people don't know who is in charge of our roads, who collects our bins, who they should approach for planning issues, and who oversees a child's SEND needs. The current system is a mess, a spider’s web of bureaucracy.

There are two main proposals: one suggests a single authority for all of Warwickshire, while the other would split Warwickshire in half. There would be two separate authorities. These would combine Rugby with the boroughs of Nuneaton and Bedworth, and North Warwickshire.

Scheduled local elections will now happen a year later for a new authority. This is a necessary step while the county re-organises.

I think we should stay united as one unitary authority in Warwickshire. I don’t want to see us carved in two. We are stronger together. I truly believe that having one single authority will save you, the taxpayer, money. It's likely that a single unitary authority could lead to cost savings of around £57 million. Just taking adult social care – the north of the county is subsidised by taxes raised in the south.

Rugby would be a clear loser under a two-unitary model, for reasons that go beyond finance. I’ve spoken to residents who say they don’t see themselves as part of the north of the county. They feel little connection to places like Bedworth and Nuneaton, whether in terms of location, economy, or heritage.

Rugby has a rich industrial heritage tied to the railways. It boasts a history of innovation and skilled engineering, similar to places like Leamington Spa, which focuses on its digital economy. Today, this shows in assets like the Manufacturing Technology Centre, green skills development, and a solid foundation of advanced engineering and manufacturing in the Rugby constituency.

But what matters most is your opinion. I encourage you to share it by filling out the consultation on the two proposals here: https://consult.communities.gov.uk/local-government-reorganisation/warwickshire.

Local Government reorganisation is coming to Warwickshire, so please make your opinion heard!