The next round in the court battle to save Shrewsbury’s borough council could be heard as early as January.
Legal papers have now been served on Shropshire County Council by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, which is joining with Congleton Borough Council in a last-ditch attempt at survival.
Both councils are due to be abolished as a series of new county-wide authorities are established, with Shropshire’s due to be set up by April 2009.
SABC had questioned the legality of the secretary of state’s decision to allow the One Council for Shropshire bid to proceed, but lost its High Court challenge in September.
The council agreed not to spend any more taxpayers’ money fighting the move, but said it would support further action in the shadow of Congleton.
Congleton’s chief executive used special powers to lodge an appeal before approval was given by its councillors, who will be told at a meeting on November 27 that funding is now in place.
Vivienne Quayle, head of prosperous communities at Congleton, told the Chronicle the cost of the appeal had been capped at £100,000 but they had been offered financial contributions amounting to ‘more than that’ from supporting councils in Northumberland, Wiltshire and Cornwall.
“There is a slim chance the appeal could be heard in December, but it will be probably be January,” she said.
Head of legal services at Shropshire County Council, Claire Porter, confirmed that an appeal form and a skeleton legal argument had been received from Shrewsbury borough council.
Malcolm Pate, county council leader, described the move as ‘very regrettable’.