A COMMUNITY leader is concerned Redditch Council has been frozen out of a debate on the future of local government.

Tory group leader Carole Gandy said she and her fellow councillors were anxious they had not been invited to a meeting with Minister for Local Government David Milliband earlier this month.

The session held in Shrewsbury was to discuss the proposed restructuring of local government, which could see two-tier authorities scrapped altogether.

Mrs Gandy said she understood representatives from councils all over the Midlands were invited to attend, including neighbouring authorities of Wyre Forest, Wychavon, Worcester City and Worcestershire County Council.

"However no representatives from Redditch or Bromsgrove were invited," she said. "Whether or not we move to unitary authorities, we must have our views heard. "

Louise Mason of the Deputy Prime Minister's office, said the meeting held in Shrewsbury was one of five being held across the country involving a cross-section of council leaders and members of the business community. "However, we will be holding eight round-table meetings where all council leaders from every authority in the country will be invited to find out more about the possible government restructuring," she added.