Unlocking Local Services: What Your Council Really Does for You!
As the 2025 local elections loom closer, voters across Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire are preparing to head to the polls on May 1. Understanding what your local council does can be crucial for making informed voting decisions.
These councils operate differently based on their structure. For instance, Shropshire Council is a unitary authority, meaning it provides all local services, from kerbside bin collections to social care and planning. In contrast, the councils in Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire are county councils, handling county-wide services like education, transport, social care, and libraries. Responsibilities for areas such as housing, planning applications, and rubbish collections are managed by district, borough, and city councils.
Key local services covered by these councils include:
Waste Management: Shropshire handles all waste aspects, including roadside collections, while others like Staffordshire coordinate recycling centers.
2. Road Maintenance: All councils deal with potholes, implementing reporting systems to prioritize repairs based on risk factors. However, the government has threatened funding cuts to councils failing to address road issues promptly.
3. Education Services: Councils manage school admissions, transport, and free school meal applications, ensuring adequate school places and supporting students with special educational needs or disabilities (Send).
4. Adult Social Care: Local councils provide vital support for older adults and those with disabilities or mental health challenges, funded through government grants and local revenue, such as council tax. The burden on council budgets is significant, with Shropshire claiming social care consumes £4 out of every £5 of its budget.
Understanding these critical functions of your local council helps you recognize the impact of your vote on the services that directly affect your community.