BROMSGROVE council chiefs have expressed fears over neighbour Redditch Council's finances - worrying the crisis-hit authority will drag Bromsgrove down.

The councils, which have a number of shared services, are both in financial woes.

Bromsgrove Council needs to find £3m over the next three years (£1.2m with planned savings), while Redditch Council must find £1.5m over the next three years.

The Advertiser revealed last month that Redditch Borough Council could run out of money in two years unless "urgent action" was taken.

According to an auditor's report, the council is set to be "spending £30,000 a week more than it receives" from 2021.

The auditor's report said that "the council needs to take urgent action to prevent both its General Fund and HRA balances being exhausted by the end of 2020/21."

It also highlights that "failure to take effective action will put the council at risk of breaching its statutory duty to set a balanced budget."

Speaking at a Bromsgrove Council meeting last week concerns were raised about Redditch's dire situation.

Leader of Bromsgrove Council councillor Karen May was asked if she regretted joining with Redditch and what she was doing about the authority's financial position.

The leader said she had spoken to her contemporary cllr Matt Dormer from Redditch who she said, would be taking some 'tough decisions'.

Despite calls for a more in-depth and formal investigation into what effect Redditch could have on Bromsgrove cllr May said she was unwilling to do so until Redditch had time to get its finances in order.