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Under proposals, all six district Worcestershire authorities, in addition to Worcestershire County Council, would be dissolved by 2028. Instead there would be one single unitary body.

A new business case for the change has been published, arguing that the existing system of local government is unsustainable.

It's estimated the new council would cost £59million to set up, including spending on design, re-branding and PR, but the dossier promises a 'rapid return on investment' by 2031. It adds that £8.5million has been set aside in redundancy payments with it being 'inevitable' that some jobs will go.

The number of elected politicians would drop by more than half, from 257 to 114.

Tom Edwards reports.