Extraordinary Council Meeting to Be Held

At an extraordinary meeting next Thursday (Jan 8), Redditch Borough Councillors will decide whether or not to write to government requesting that the elections, set to be held in May, should be postponed

This follows a letter from the Government to the 63 Councils affected by elections in May 2026 to submit their views on their potential postponement with Local Government Reorganisation. (LGR) in mind.

On 18^th December, Alison McGovern, the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, wrote to the Leaders of these Councils asking them to consider the local capacity to deliver local elections alongside the delivery of Local Government Reorganisation. This was on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. (MHCLG)

It said that other councils, not including Redditch, had already expressed concerns around this.

Redditch Borough Council elects Councillors in thirds and so the elections in May will affect nine seats, with new councillors potentially only serving part of their elected term, but which could cost up to £200,000 to hold.

On Thursday 8^th January Members will be asked to note the letter and consider if they want to proceed or to submit a request to the Government to postpone the elections in May. Government alone has the power to postpone elections.

Redditch Borough Council Leader Cllr Sharon Harvey said: “We have been invited, along with the other Councils which have elections in May to submit our views.

“It is important that both options be considered by all Members on Thursday and our collective decision sent to the Government.”

The deadline for Councils to respond to the MHCLG, is midnight on January 15 which is why the extraordinary meeting has been called.

Redditch Borough Council’s proposals for LGR were submitted to MHCLG on November 27.

The Council has chosen to support the north and south Local Government Reorganisation Proposal for Worcestershire which would see the establishment of two unitary authorities, one in the North covering Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest, and one in the South covering Malvern Hills, Worcester City and Wychavon.

An alternative proposal that has been put forward by Worcestershire County Council and Wyre Forest District Council is that there should be one County wide unitary authority for the whole of Worcestershire.

The extraordinary meeting of the Council will be held at Oakenshaw Community Centre, 7pm. It will also be livestreamed – the link will be shared on the Council’s social media channels and website.