CALLS are being made for a public referendum over the future of Worcestershire's councils before they take the plunge and grab any more powers from Whitehall.

The Labour group leader of Worcestershire County Council has upped the ante over big potential changes by insisting people must get a say before anything is agreed.

Councillor Peter McDonald's intervention comes at a time when local authorities around the country are facing their biggest shake-ups for a generation.

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.

Metropolitan areas have been invited to submit bids to the Government by Friday, September 4 as to what they want control over.

The picture for shires like Worcestershire will not be clear until a later date, but The Advertiser revealed two weeks ago how consultants KPMG have been asked by County Hall to examine the possible options - which could suggest radical changes.

The leaders of all seven Worcestershire councils are coming together to discuss it at the end of September.

Councillor McDonald said: "There is a great deal of talking, much of which has been going on behind closed doors.

"They've been discussing the possibility of Worcestershire County Council taking on further powers from the Government - that could well be health, economic development, transportation, road infrastructure, and so on.

"There is a need for a debate on this issue before any final decision is taken.

"Any combining of authorities could lead to the break-up of Worcestershire and what that might lead to? "Would all those north of Worcestershire become in the near future part of Birmingham, would the rest of Worcestershire, to survive, become a unitary authority?

"The Labour group feels strongly that this matter is too serious to be left to carry on without full consultation with residents."

But Councillor Adrian Hardman, the leader of the county council, has urged caution.

"There are two streams of work being done by the Government, one is aimed at the 'Mets' (metropolitan areas), but the counties will be dealt with by the new legislation coming forward around October, so this isn't a rip-roaring rush for us," he said.

"What I will do next week is write to the secretary of state to say we're still interested (in more powers) - but there is a nuance between what those metropolitan areas are doing and the counties, we're very different."

He said the seven Worcestershire leaders will talk it through further once KPMG wraps up its assessment.

Redditch Council leader Bill Hartnett has previously said he is against a powerful new 'super council' for Worcestershire.

He said: "I will be interested to see what results KPMG come up with and we will be considering everything very carefully before any decisions are made by the council.

"Decisions will not be made lightly and will be decided upon by the council as a whole."