Businesses have been told to act now to make sure their voices are heard as consultation begins on a shake-up of local government.
The number and size of councils across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent – including who is responsible for what – is changing as part of local government reorganisation (LGR).
LGR will see Staffordshire’s existing county, city, district and borough councils replaced with fewer unitary councils.
Five separate proposals have been put forward by current local authorities, and residents and businesses have until March 26 to submit their views.
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is strongly encouraging the business community to engage in the consultation available online here.
Declan Riddell, policy advisor at the Chambers, said: “LGR is the biggest shake up of local government in half a century. It’s why it’s so important that the voice of business is at the heart of proposals to shape the future of our region. We urge all businesses to share their views in the consultation at this critical point in time.”
The five proposals are:
Option one – A new northern council serving Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Moorlands (494,803 people), and a southern council serving Stafford, East Staffordshire, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Tamworth and South Staffordshire (682,775 people).
The preferred option of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Stafford Borough Council, Cannock Chase District Council and East Staffordshire Borough Council.
Option two – A new northern council for Uttoxeter and surrounding villages, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stone and surrounding villages, Staffordshire Moorlands and Stoke-on-Trent (536,172 people), and a southern council for the rest of East Staffordshire, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, the rest of Stafford, and Tamworth (598,128 people).
Proposed by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.
Option three – Staffordshire County Council’s east and west proposal suggests an eastern council serving Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Moorlands, East Staffordshire, Lichfield and Tamworth (689,784 people) and a western council serving Newcastle-under Lyme, Stafford, Cannock Chase and South Staffordshire (487,794 people).
Option four – Lichfield District Council, Tamworth Borough Council and South Staffordshire District Council propose three new unitary councils for the area.
The northern one would serve Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Moorlands (494,803 people), the south-eastern one would cover East Staffordshire, Lichfield and Tamworth (322,708 people), while the last could serve Stafford, Cannock Chase and South Staffordshire (360,067 people).
Option five – Four new unitary councils are proposed by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.
They would be broken down into the following areas: Newcastle-under-Lyme (127,727 people); Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Moorlands (367,076 people); Stafford, Cannock Chase and South Staffordshire (360,067 people); and East Staffordshire, Lichfield and Tamworth (322,708 people).
The government is due to make a decision on the reorganisation in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent this summer, with elections for new shadow unitary councils taking place in May 2027 and new unitary councils ‘going live’ in April 2028.
- Daily Focus issued an invitation to all local council leaders to explain the reasons behind their preferred LGR proposals. Responses from authorities including Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Cannock Chase District Council and Stafford Borough Council can be found in our guest articles section here.
