Lichfield and Burntwood could feel all of the pain with none of the gain if they join a combined authority with Birmingham, a councillor has warned.
Lichfield District Council has been involved in discussions about the idea following an invitation from the chancellor, George Osborne.
Cllr Mike Wilcox, leader of the local authority, has insisted no decision has been made, with talks due to take place with Staffordshire County Council this week too.
But Cllr Alan White, Conservative representative for Whittington and Streethay, warned that any deal with Birmingham could have a significant impact on services in Lichfield and Burntwood.
He said: “If you have walked through Sparkhill, Sparkbrook or Soho you will see that the health provision these areas have make Lichfield district look like paradise.
“A combined authority would prioritise areas like these for funding and what would happen in Lichfield then?
“The question we have to ask is whether or not we are needed at the table. They may need our resources but we may not see the benefit.
“Health resources could go to the areas I’ve mentioned, while our minerals could be needed too, leaving us to pick up the pieces and seeing our landscape scarred forever.”
He also warned that Birmingham may have other impacts on the region if services are managed from there.
“Look at child services which is in a disastrous place,” he said.
“People living in Lichfield district see themselves as Staffordshire residents who might work elsewhere.
“But they want to see things like their police officers and firefighters to be from a Staffordshire force.”
Labour opposition leader Cllr Sue Woodward raised concerns over the speed at which the combined authority debate was moving – and called for transparency in the decision-making process.
“I can see benefits in both the Birmingham and Staffordshire options for combined authorities,” she said.
“We are part of a complex geography where there aren’t need boundaries and service areas like there might be in Greater Manchester for example.
“But whatever happens, we have got to have a transparent look at the issue to make sure we are capturing all of the views rather than seeing a stitch up behind closed doors.”
