Local government in Warwickshire is at an important crossroads. As competing proposals progress for new unitary authorities, I want to be clear that although there are arguments for a single county-wide council, I think the arguments are stronger for the creation of a South Warwickshire Unitary Council and a North Warwickshire Unitary Council.

For our constituency, this would mean two unitary authorities rather than the three District and Borough councils I engage with at present, in addition to Warwickshire County Council. That alone would be an improvement in clarity and coordination.

The case for moving to unitary status in Warwickshire is a strong one. Bringing together housing, planning and economic development functions within single councils offers clearer accountability and better alignment of local priorities.

Financially, unitary structures also bring advantages, including reducing duplication, lowering overall internal administrative costs and helping ensure that council tax represents value for money. For residents, knowing which council is responsible for what would become simpler and more transparent.

When considering the structure of local government in our local area, the realistic options are either a single county-wide unitary or two unitaries – one serving the north of the county and one the south. While both can be made to work, the differences between North and South Warwickshire are substantial and long-standing, whether in economic profile or in natural affinities with neighbouring areas. South Warwickshire has already demonstrated how joint working can operate in practice. Stratford and Warwick Districts now share waste services and are developing a common local plan, and in recent years made real progress toward full merger. Combining them within a single South Warwickshire unitary is therefore not only logical, but builds on partnerships that already function well.

The principal obstacle to this proposal has been the Government's previous indication that a unitary council should serve at least 500,000 people. Each of the proposed councils in the two unitary model for Warwickshire would serve between 300,000 and 350,000 residents. However, the Government has recently clarified that 500,000 is a guiding principle rather than a fixed requirement, acknowledging the need for flexibility as devolution develops and housing growth continues. Warwickshire's population is already growing, particularly in the south, and is projected to reach nearly 750,000 by 2047. It is also notable that the options now under consultation in Suffolk include unitaries of a very similar size.

I have long argued that any move to unitary status must be driven locally, not imposed from Westminster or rushed through on unrealistic timescales. Local identity matters, and public support will only grow where the process is transparent and locally led. For Warwickshire, the proposal for North and South unitary councils meets that test and, done well, can strengthen both local government and local democracy.