STRATFORD District Council has voted in favour of two new unitary councils as the future for Warwickshire.
Councillors will submit their preferred option of establishing a two council set-up – one in the north and one in the south of the county – along with other local authorities in the county, to the government by November 28.
Under central government plans for the biggest national shake-up of local government since the 1970s, Warwickshire County Council, together with Warwick District Council, Stratford District Council, Rugby Borough Council, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and North Warwickshire Borough Council will all be abolished on April 1 2028.
They will be replaced by either one single unitary council for Warwickshire, or two unitary councils, with each responsible for all services for its part of the county.
SDC’s decision follows a public engagement process that received over 2,300 responses, with 73 per cent of respondents county-wide and 78 per cent in Stratford district expressing support for the two-unitary model.
The proposal aligns with the Government’s six criteria for reorganisation, including efficiency, service quality, and community engagement.
Independent analysis by Peopletoo and the District Council Network further supports the model, highlighting that smaller unitary authorities can deliver better outcomes and financial sustainability.
SDC leader Susan Juned said: “This proposal represents a bold and balanced vision for Warwickshire’s future. It is rooted in evidence, shaped by public input, and designed to deliver better services, stronger local identity, and financial resilience.”
The government will consult on the proposed plans in early 2026 and it is expected to make its final decision in early summer 2026. If approved, the new unitary councils are due to be in place from April 1 2028.
Reform-led WCC voted Warwickshire is backing one large unitary authority, and also for Warwickshire to become part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
Set up in 2016, the WMCA is currently made up of 18 councils, including city councils Birmingham and Coventry. While not a council itself, the WMCA exists to grow economies in its regions, investing in projects such as transport and housing to tackling climate change.
