COMMENT: Let’s all take part in this vital debate (From Worcester News)

COMMENT: Let’s all take part in this vital debate

8:05am Monday 12th May 2008 in News

OUR revelation today of proposals to merge Worcester and Malvern Hills councils will shake to the core many of the authorities' employees.

The plans - just one of a series of cost-cutting options being considered by the councils - would see the councils remain as separate entities in democratic terms while employing a single workforce.

Unions have already raised the warning flag over the proposals, fearing hundreds of job losses. Council chiefs say that if - and at the moment it is a big if - the plans came to fruition job losses would be kept to a minimum.

Fewer jobs would be inevitable though, with the removal of duplicated roles, be they chief executives or binmen.

We have two points to make about this proposal at this early stage. Firstly, it should not take the leaking of documents to this newspaper for it to become public. A plan such as this has such far-reaching effects that it should have been placed in the public arena at an embryonic stage.

Secondly, we think the idea has merit. South Worcestershire, in particular, has three relatively small district councils all doing essentially the same jobs. Closer ties or even mergers make sense.

We would go further and suggest that the idea of a unitary authority for the county - or perhaps one each for north and south - should again be on the agenda. What is important is that these discussions should not take place behind closed doors.

As council tax payers, we all have a right to take part in the debate.

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