Street care and cleaning Street Scene devolution pilots in Shropshire - working together to shape local services
We're testing new ways of planning and delivering Street Scene services across the county. These include everyday services that keep our places clean, safe and attractive, such as street cleaning, grounds maintenance, verge cutting, public waste bins, and the upkeep of local green spaces.
Using four pilot areas, we’re working closely with town and parish councils to explore how decisions and services can be organised more locally, with Shropshire Council continuing to control overall governance, statutory responsibilities and quality standards.
The learning from these pilots will help to shape a consistent, county-wide model that other towns and parishes may choose to be part of in future.
The four pilot areas
These pilots test different models of localised service delivery, reflecting the needs and capacity of each place:
Shrewsbury – full devolution
All Street Scene services will be fully delegated locally from April 2026, giving Shrewsbury Town Council day-to-day responsibility for the planning and delivery of the full service.
Oswestry – partial devolution
Oswestry will take on responsibility for parks, green spaces, footpaths and some environmental services, with other functions remain with Shropshire Council.
Broseley – full devolution
Broseley will adopt a full devolution model similar to Shrewsbury’s, with local planning and delivery of all Street Scene services.
Shifnal – collaborative model
Shifnal will test enhanced joint working and shared priorities, without formal devolution of services. This collaborative model will help shape best practice for areas wanting more influence without full transfer of responsibilities.
Why we’re piloting this
We want to understand how local delivery can:
- Improve responsiveness – ensuring issues are dealt with quickly and in ways that reflect local knowledge
- Strengthen local decision making – enabling town and parish councils to shape priorities and service levels in their community
- Reduce duplication and increase efficiency – making the best use of shared resources, staff and insight
- Build community pride and involvement – supporting places to look and feel better through local ownership and partnership working
This approach is part of Shropshire Council’s wider transformation programme aimed at empowering communities and redesigning services to be more flexible, sustainable and locally responsive.
What residents can expect
Regardless of where you live, you'll continue to see:
- Clean, safe and maintained public spaces
- Clear standards for Street Scene services
- Consistent oversight and statutory compliance from Shropshire Council, including environmental protection and health and safety duties
- Opportunities to provide feedback and help shape improvements in your local area
In pilot areas, residents may notice more visible local decision making, tailored service levels and locally-led projects.
Timeline
Key milestones include:
- Late 2025 – early 2026: local agreements and preparation
- Spring 2026: starting discussions with more town and parish councils regarding future devolution
- April 2026: go live for devolved models in pilot areas
- Summer 2026: initial evaluation and learning review
This learning will inform future opportunities across the county.
