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

The move to a single unified management structure' is being considered by both councils, who are having to make massive savings in the face of cutbacks in government funding.

A working document entitled Malvern Hills/Worcester City Partnership - Working As One' makes it clear that the two councils would remain as separate political bodies, with each keeping its own name and individual identity.

But the hundreds of non-political service staff, from binmen to planning officials, would be merged into a single service staff.

MHDC leader Serena Croad said "taking the initiative" in this manner could be the only way for the council to retain its own individual identity in the face of an increasing Government push towards larger unitary authorities.

"As soon as the government come in we will lose control and be fighting a losing battle," she said. "This is a move to avoid being sucked up into a unitary authority.

"Malvern Hills needs to protect its identity. Our residents need to know their local councillor. This is not about losing political control of the Malvern Hills."

But Cllr Tom Wells, a member of the opposition Lib Dem/Green group, fears any such move could spell disaster for the Malvern Hills district.

"Worcester City's financial crisis is well documented," he said. "We know that they have serious financial problems and it is not for us to bail them out of that crisis.

"I don't believe that the residents of Malvern Hills would welcome a fortnightly wheelie bin collection as they have in Worcester, nor their planning applications being decided by a Worcester City planner. Malvern Hills is a distinct area with its own priorities and needs, and I cannot believe those will be met by an amalgamated workforce."

Cllr Wells added that he and fellow opposition councillors knew nothing of the plans until they were leaked to the public. He is now calling for public consultation and a full council debate on the plans.

"I am appalled that secret meetings have been taking place on such a radical proposal," he said. "At the core of all this is a lack of transparency and openness, and that is no way for local government to operate."

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.

MHDC's 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. However this proposal would spell an end to that piecemeal approach.

Chief executive Chris Bocock said the early indications from the revenues and benefits merger were that shared service delivery could work successfully.

"The people out there want a better service for a lower cost and we are trying to see if we can deliver that," he said. "In real terms we have got to find £1.6m just to stay still. This would ensure that council tax bills do not rocket. Without it we would either be in a position where we have to reduce services or see a big increase in tax bills."

9:00am Friday 16th May 2008

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