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Home secretary, Jacqui Smith, has condemned plans by Bromsgrove DC and Redditch BC to share chief executive, Kevin Dicks.

Ms Smith, who is the MP for Redditch, said it could lead ‘to the merger' of the two councils, which ‘is a bad idea in itself'.

‘Conservative councillors are selling out the interests of Redditch,' she said. ‘I'm not against the sharing of back-room services, but chief executives are top of the tree and need to be directly accountable to the communities they serve through their councillors.'

Worcestershire CC has announced plans for enhanced two-tier and joint working with its six district councils. The county council confirmed last week that it and the district councils had been looking at opportunities for closer working for some time.

A report, which goes before county councillors on Thursday, reveals the county council is willing to work with smaller groupings of councils.

It was reported last month that Malvern Hills DC and Worcester City Council were looking at the possbility of merging workforces and joining-up more services with Worcestershire CC.

‘However, it is early days and there is a lot of work which needs to be done to ensure any changes that are made will provide an improved service for members of the public to deliver long-term efficiencies,' said Worcestershire CC chief executive, Trish Haines.

The Cheshire West and Chester shadow executive has supported the creation of a new parish council for Neston.

Councillors at South Oxfordshire DC and Vale of White Horse DC vote on plans this week to share a chief executive.

Other councils sharing a chief executive:

Adur DC and Worthing BC – Ian Lowrie;
Staffordshire Moorlands DC and High Peak BC – Simon Baker;
Essex CC and Brentwood BC – Joanna Killian.