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A LEAKED document has revealed plans to merge the entire staff and services of Malvern Hills District Council with neighbouring Worcester City.

The confidential document, entitled Malvern Hills/Worcester City Partnership - Working As One, reveals details of the shock proposal, which would aim to slash costs by creating a single workforce under a single unified management structure.

The two councils would retain their own names and separate identities, with elected officials making separate decisions as they do now.

But local union leaders fear the move could cause massive upheaval for the hundreds of non-political staff employed by the two authorities, with almost every post potentially under threat as the councils attempt to strip away any duplication of positions.

Malvern Hills' revenues and benefits department has already been merged with those of Worcester City and Wychavon, and the door has always been left open for other partnerships.

This latest proposal, however, would signal an end to that piecemeal approach.

MHDC leader Serena Croad said the proposal was about retaining MHDC's identity in the face of a government push towards unitary authorities.

She added that following cutbacks in Government funding it could also allow the council to retain its level of service provision without pushing up costs.

Adrian Gregson, a Worcestershire representative of public services union Unison, said staff would be very concerned by the proposal.

"The only reason you go forward with sharing services is to save money, and you do that by getting rid of staff," he said. "Our members would rightly be concerned about something like this."

Councillors will discuss the idea at a workshop on June 9, with a final decision scheduled to be taken in September. If it goes ahead a merger would be phased in gradually over a period of two or three years.

2:11pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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