The government has announced that Staffordshire will be reorganised into two new unitary councils as part of its programme of local government reform.
The existing ten county, city, district and borough councils. Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent will be replaced by two new authorities from April 2028.
One council will serve Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and the Staffordshire Moorlands, covering a population of 494,803 people. The second will serve Stafford, East Staffordshire, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Tamworth and South Staffordshire, with a population of 682,775.
Elections to shadow authorities are expected to take place in May 2027.
Residents will see no immediate changes to council services, and day-to-day services such as household waste collection, street cleaning, parks and highways maintenance, children’s services and adult social care will continue to be provided as normal.
Councillor Martin Murray, pictured above, Chair of Staffordshire Leaders Board, said: “Councils across the area have expressed different views through this process, but the government has made its decision clear, and we are focused on making it work for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. We already have strong and well-established partnerships, and all councils are united in our commitment to a smooth transition with no disruption to the services residents rely on.
“This is a significant and complex programme, but we will put residents first, protect essential services, and work together to deliver a system that works for the people we serve.”
The decision has been met with mixed reaction from the area’s local authorities, which has submitted five different proposals for reorganisation last November.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s leader, Councillor Jonathan Gullis has described the decision as a “shameful betrayal of Newcastle-under-Lyme and the people who call our Borough home.”
At a meeting on 8 July, the council reaffirmed its opposition to local government reorganisation and specifically rejected a merger with Stoke-on-Trent.
He said: “There is nothing efficient about spending huge sums of taxpayers’ money abolishing well-run councils, transferring thousands of staff and merging complex services merely to create another layer of distant bureaucracy.”
Lichfield District Council had backed a three-unitary authority model for Staffordshire.
Council leader Councillor Doug Pullen said: “While today’s decision is not the outcome we preferred, the Government has now made its decision.
“Our priority is to work positively and constructively with our neighbouring councils and Government to ensure the transition is well managed, protect the services residents rely on and make sure the interests of Lichfield District continue to be strongly represented.”
Councillor Carol Dean, Leader of Tamworth Borough Council, said although the decision was not the structure the authority proposed, its focus is now on working with councils across Staffordshire to make it work well for Tamworth residents.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council welcomed the announcement and said it “reflects local communities, strengthens public services and creates the strongest foundation for economic growth.”
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s leader Councillor Mike Gledhill also welcomed the decision, adding: “The new North Staffordshire council is absolutely not a merger with Stoke-on-Trent. It’s a new start for the three councils and makes sense geographically, economically and culturally.
“For the Moorlands it brings the opportunity for improved transport connectively, greater job opportunities especially for our young people, and sensible building where it is needed using brownfield sites where possible.”
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