Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

In a Nutshell

The Government wants to replace Staffordshire's existing councils with a simpler and more efficient system of Local Government Reorganisation (known as LGR) by creating unitary councils to deliver the full range of local authority services. It means all existing districts, boroughs, the county council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council will be abolished in March 2028.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is working up a proposal called Option D which would see the Moorlands, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent - and Stone and Uttoxeter and surrounding villages - become part of a new North Staffordshire Council.

Other options and their status are:

Option A - Two councils - West Staffordshire and East Staffordshire (preferred by Staffordshire County Council - it previously suggested one Staffordshire council with Stoke-on-Trent as it is now)

Option B - Two councils - North Staffordshire and South Staffordshire (preferred by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and southern districts)

Option C - Two councils - North Staffordshire and South Staffordshire (with East Staffordshire in the North) (no existing council currently favouring this option)

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council - exploring other options

Why Staffordshire Moorlands District Council prefers Option D

• It follows the Government's criteria for unitary councils to serve a population of 500,000. Option D would see populations of 536,172 in North Staffordshire and 598,128 in South Staffordshire;
• Stoke-on-Trent as a city (258,400) would not dominate as the rest of North Staffordshire would be 277,772;
• Gives fair democratic representation - of a proposed 92 councillors, 48 of these would be from outside Stoke-on-Trent with 44 covering Stoke-on-Trent;
• It follows key transport links: A50 linking M6 to M1 and bringing in Uttoxeter and Blythe Bridge. Uttoxeter and Stone both have direct rail lines to Stoke-on-Trent and beyond;
• Recognises travel to work patterns - a large number of Uttoxeter and Stone residents work in Stoke-on-Trent, with a significant number from Uttoxeter working in Cheadle and at Alton Towers;
• We know Stoke-on-Trent has financial challenges (as do many other unitary councils), but under the Government's Fair Funding for Local Government proposals it is likely to benefit from millions of pounds more funding in the coming years;
• Whilst the extra council tax and business rates from Stone, Uttoxeter and surrounding villages improves the revenue generation potential of this North Staffordshire unitary compared to Option B;
• Economically, it meets the Government's `sensible economic area criteria` and would include major employers such as JCB, Alton Towers and Bet365;
• North Staffordshire as an identity has a long history, including being the home of the former North Staffordshire Regiment, used by the health service, and recognised culturally by the county's biggest daily newspaper and is the main broadcast area of BBC Radio Stoke;
• It builds on strong parish and town council networks, especially in Staffordshire Moorlands, supporting community engagement and neighbour empowerment which the Government wants to see from LGR; and
• Option D works for the whole of Staffordshire - a fundamental requirement set by the Government.

What is Devolution?

The changes to local government follow publication of the Government's White Paper on English Devolution in December 2024, which set out plans to extend devolution across the country - as well as  to introduce local government reorganisation. The paper can be found here.

In England, devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. It is important because it ensures that decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and businesses they affect.

What is Local Government Reorganisation?

The Government has announced that it wants to merge areas where there are currently more than one tier of local authority - like Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

At the moment, there are three different systems in this area:

• Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which has been a unitary authority since 1997, meaning it is in charge of all council services in the area it covers; and
• A two-tiered system where Staffordshire County Council is in charge of services like roads and social care, whilst district and borough councils, like Staffordshire Moorlands, take care of services like bin collections, planning, leisure and parks.

What has happened so far?

Our Chief Executive and Leader have been actively involved in meetings and workshops alongside counterparts from across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, working together to shape an interim plan for the future of local government in our area.

Initial options were assessed - looking at the opportunities and challenges they could bring, not just for service delivery, but also for our residents, our workforce, and the identity of our district.

We have been fully engaged and focused on achieving the best possible outcome for Staffordshire Moorlands.

On 21 March, the following Interim Plan was submitted to the Government:

• The creation of a Mayoral Strategic Authority across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to unlock investment and decision-making powers that will boost our local economy
• Two unitary authorities to deliver other day-to-day council services, with two main options for the size and shape of these:
  • A new county unitary combining areas currently served by the county council and the eight district and borough councils, working alongside Stoke-on-Trent City Council as an existing council operating on its current boundaries
  • Two new unitary councils, one for Northern Staffordshire covering as a minimum the current borough of Newcastle-Under-Lyme, the district of Staffordshire Moorlands and the city of Stoke-on-Trent; and the creation of a complementary Southern Staffordshire unitary covering the districts of Lichfield, Cannock Chase, South Staffordshire and boroughs of East Staffordshire, Tamworth and Stafford

What happens next?

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council decided it needed time to look at all the options in detail. It therefore set up a politically balanced Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation Sub Committee in March, which has been meeting since then.

At a Cabinet Meeting on 8 July followed by a Council Assembly on 9 July (involving all councillors), the Council considered four options for reorganisation which included the two mentioned above from the Interim Plan; with the intention that a preferred option would be agreed.

Option D was recommended to take forward, which had recently been developed by the Council.

You can read the Cabinet and Council Assembly papers using the buttons below.

The Council is now developing Option D into a full proposal and is engaging with stakeholders and residents, as part of this process. Special Council Assembly and Cabinet meetings will take place again, on 20 and 25 November respectively, before any final proposal is submitted to Government.

All proposals must be submitted by 28 November.

Residents' Survey

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is currently running a Residents' Survey to seek the views of residents on how they feel the Council is performing.

However, it also includes some questions about the future of local government, including the opportunity for residents to select from three options for local government reorganisation that all involve Staffordshire Moorlands (they include the Council's preferred Option D).

The deadline for responses is Sunday 12 October.

Statements issued

Statement following submission of the Interim Plan on 21 March can be found at:

Staffordshire Leaders' Board Submits Interim Plan for Council Reorganisation

Statement ahead of the Cabinet Meeting on 8 July can be found at:

Cabinet recommended to `Say Yes to North Staffordshire` as local government reorganisation progresses

Government's proposed timetable