Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Local government will be changing over the next few years following publication of the Government's White Paper on English Devolution in December 2024. It set out plans to extend devolution across the country and to introduce local government reorganisation. The paper can be found here. Staffordshire Moorlands District Council will be part of that change.

What is Devolution?

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, while 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 and eventually a final proposal for the future of local government in our area.

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

On 21 March, the following interim plan proposal 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

The new councils would replace the existing county, city, district and borough councils. The plan recognised that other options may emerge as the process continues.

What happens next?

We have until 28 November to submit a final proposal or proposals. Any principal council in our area can submit a final proposal, although the Government would prefer councils to work together on one proposal.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is keeping an open mind for now. It has set up a politically balanced Sub Committee of councillors which is considering all feasible options. A Cabinet meeting then a Council Assembly later this year is expected to consider a proposal(s) to support.

We will engage with stakeholders and residents as the process develops.

Statements issued

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

Government's proposed timetable