A COUNCILLOR has raised the prospect of merging the county's councils into one unitary authority.

The idea was floated during a debate about the number of councillors at Wychavon District Council on Wednesday night.

Local government in Worcestershire is currently a 'two tier system', split into one county council and six district councils.

Cllr Margaret Rowley, leader of the council's Liberal Democrat group, said: "Might there not be a time where we feel the need to form a joint authority?

"Surely that would need to be in the mix as well? We are closely working with two other councils."

Tory district councillor Adrian Hardman said the proposal of a 'southern unitary authority' had taken him by surprise.

He said: "I was about to accuse the Liberal Democrats of not embracing change and kicking the ball down the road."

Cllr Paul Middlebrough added: "Lo and behold Mrs Rowley has trumped the evening.

"A merge of Malvern and Wychavon and Worcester and Tewkesbury. Well look, I look forward to your next council debate."

Cllr Middlebrough originally called for the debate on the number of councillors because of the increase in Wychavon's population.

He said that in 1981 there were 49 councillors for the 90,000-strong population, while the council currently has 45 members, despite a population of almost 120,000.

He proposed the council approach the Local Government Boundary Commission for England for a review of the number of councillors and the wards boundaries in Wychavon.

Councillors voted in favour of referring the matter to the council's executive board, which can then organise a boundary review.