In the latest in a series of guest articles from council leaders in Staffordshire, Councillor Mike Gledhill, of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, explains why the local authority has submitted a modified proposal to a North/South and mid split.
“Staffordshire Moorlands District Council supports the Base Proposal of a North Staffordshire unitary council and a Southern and Mid Staffordshire unitary council, but we believe it needs an Enhanced North Staffordshire to make it truly work.
We have therefore submitted a Modification Proposal which we believe meets all the criteria set by Government and is one that works best for the whole of Staffordshire.
By modification, we argue that Stone, Uttoxeter and their surrounding villages should become part of a North Staffordshire council alongside Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and the Staffordshire Moorlands. Economically, geographically and culturally they have far more in common with the north than Lichfield or Tamworth in the south.
Our proposal would see a population of 536,172 in the north and 598,128 in the south as against 477,500 and 656,800 in the Base Proposal – a far better balance.
Businesses will recognise this puts the key A50 Growth Corridor into one unitary area, alongside key businesses including JCB and Bet365, and our two entrepreneurially focussed universities, Keele University and the University of Staffordshire.
With existing commitments to develop around Stone and Uttoxeter, the proposed modification would also provide a more equitable balance of housing growth across the two new unitary councils.
On financial sustainability, the Base Proposal would see a significant imbalance between the council tax and business rates bases of the North Staffordshire unitary and the Southern and Mid-Staffordshire unitary, which would potentially be a challenge for ongoing financial sustainability in the north. Our proposal improves financial sustainability in the north without impacting significantly in the south.
The council tax bases in the Base Proposal have 143,040 for the north and 226,518 for the south, but in our Proposal, this narrows to 165,213 and 204,345 – important when delivering high quality services.
And in North Staffordshire there will be a need to balance the urban needs and priorities of Stoke-on-Trent with those of towns and villages in the rest of the unitary area. We are therefore proposing more councillors outside Stoke-on-Trent than inside: 48 to 44 – and we bring ‘to the table’ the experience of working across a large rural area of 42 town and parish councils.
Futhermore, our proposal would sort out boundary anomalies dating from 1974 that no longer reflect how people live, work and shop, in places like Blythe Bridge, Meir Heath, Trentham and Wedgwood.
Reorganisation will undoubtedly mean change but I believe our proposal for change will give greater certainty and opportunities for businesses, improved services for residents, and crucially better value for money for taxpayers across the whole of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.”
