Posted on Thursday 13th March 2025
Cllr Alan White
An outline proposal to create a new Staffordshire Unitary authority moved forward today (Thursday) following a meeting of Staffordshire county councillors today.
The outline plans, which are in response to the Government’s decision to require all areas of England to adopt the unitary model, would see one council replacing the county council and the eight districts and borough councils.
A new Mayoral Strategic Authority would also be created across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to lead on economic growth, with wider options remaining a possibility.
At a meeting of Full Council, members heard how a Staffordshire Unitary is the initial preferred option to take forward to Government next week.
Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said:
“The county council and our neighbouring district and borough councils have a track record of delivering for the residents and businesses of Staffordshire, but the Government has decided that we must move to a unitary model.”
“This county council is a well-run and financially stable authority which, as we have seen from the creation of some now floundering new unitaries, will be absolutely vital if we are to succeed and protect vital public services.”
Councils in Staffordshire, including Stoke-on-Trent City Council, were asked by Jim McMahon, the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, to submit an initial view on their outline plans for reorganisation to government by March 21.
Alan added:
“A Staffordshire Unitary is likely to be among a number of options considered and our ourselves, the district and borough councils and the city council will continue to work together to finalise an option which is in the best interest of Staffordshire as a whole.”
“We will now be spending the coming months engaging with our communities and gathering detailed evidence, which we will consider with an open mind, before deciding on our final proposal to Government in the autumn.”
Following today’s Full Council meeting, the outline plans will now be considered by the Government before more detailed proposals for local government reorganisation are submitted in November. The earliest that changes are expected to be fully implemented is 2028.