EXPERTS have been asked to investigate the implications of a powerful new 'super council' for Worcestershire, it has emerged.

Your Worcester News can reveal how a detailed study is taking place over the future of Worcestershire's seven local authorities which could signal the most important shake-up in a generation.

The assessment, led by KPMG, is expected to be published for each council leader early next month and will offer insight into what steps to take next in order to grab more powers from central Government.

The aftermath of the Scottish 'no' vote in the referendum left English regions facing their own challenge on how to get more power and influence from Whitehall.

We can reveal how in recent months, scrapping Worcestershire's district councils to form one great big unitary authority has been called a 'red line' they are not willing to cross.

The KPMG is looking what opportunities are behind a shake-up, including forming a new powerful over-arching body to sit as a new layer of decision-making known as a 'combined authority' - the most conservative option.

That model would follow the one already launched up the road in the West Midlands between the Black Country and Birmingham, and for Greater Manchester.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, who leads Worcester City Council and is the deputy at County Hall, said: "Before the elections we said we'd keep a watching brief on this and now we're well beyond that, it's clear the Government wants to press ahead which is why this work is being done.

"We've got a meeting of all the council leaders in early September and subject to what the piece of work says we'll know if there's a possible 'county deal'.

"This is very much something we'll have to negotiate with the Government so we need to think about what we can do alone and what's sensible to be devolved down.

"For us I suspect it'll be around how we develop business rates, the economy, infrastructure."

Transport, infrastructure planning like new roads, skills development and land planning are the four areas previously cited by Councillor Adrian Hardman, the county council's leader, that he'd want control over.

Councillor Linda Robinson, who leads Wychavon District Council, said: "There is nothing definite on the table yet but we are working together as one local government family on it.

"Only until we know what's on the table can we make a decision on what to do next - if the north Worcestershire authorities join Birmingham south Worcestershire might not be big enough (to grab new powers) - we need a clear steer and that's why this KPMG work is great."

She said a "big red line" has been drawn at scrapping the district councils.

The next meeting of all seven council leaders across Worcestershire is taking place in the first week of September.

In November last year Greater Manchester stole a march on the rest of the UK by sealing a £1 billion devolution deal with central Government, with powers handed down for transport and skills budgets including the famous tram network, which is being extended.

It has secured the full backing of Chancellor George Osborne, as has the new combined authority in the West Midlands, despite ministers trying to push Birmingham and the Black Country into having an elected mayor run it.

The seven councils behind the planned West Midlands Combined Authority have drawn up proposals for a system without any clear leader at all, but that could yet change if it wants the kind of powers Greater Manchester has.

KPMG's consultancy work for Worcestershire is being paid for by the county council.