Posted on Tuesday 9th September 2025
Cabinet members at Staffordshire County Council are considering a new option for how local councils could be organised in the future.
At their meeting on 17 September, Cabinet will consider approving the development of a business case for two new unitary councils – one covering the East and one covering the West of Staffordshire - as part of the Government’s programme of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
The East Staffordshire council would provide services for 689,784 people in Staffordshire Moorlands, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Tamworth and Stoke-on-Trent using the existing district and borough council boundaries.
The West Staffordshire council would serve 487,794 people in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford, Cannock Chase and South Staffordshire.
The new preference, which would replace the one set out in the county council’s interim plan to Government in March 2025, is being put forward following a period of detailed analysis and Government feedback.
Ian Cooper, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said:
Local Government Reorganisation could help to streamline and simplify council services, making council taxpayers money work harder.
Unrealistic timescales and Government guidelines risk undermining this but we will put forward the strongest possible business case in November to try to make the best of this situation for Staffordshire’s residents and businesses.”
Under Government guidelines, the county council can put forward only one option for reorganisation in November.
The option must meet six criteria set by the Government.
Following official feedback from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government in June 2025, it must also set out how Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s financial challenges would be addressed to put ‘‘local government in the area as a whole on a firmer footing”.
Martin Murray, Deputy Leader of Staffordshire County Council and Lead Cabinet Member for Local Government Reorganisation said:
In an ideal world, we would avoid the burden of Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s financial distress on people across the wider county, but the Government are likely to dismiss any option that does not help to solve these long running financial problems or meet their wider criteria for change.
We will follow the rules of the game set by Government so that they are compelled to consider the option we put forward.
We want the best for our residents and businesses – this isn’t about politics, it’s about giving Staffordshire the best chance of success in the circumstances.
Of the options that meet the Government’s criteria, analysis is showing that an East-West option gives the best chance of success for both new councils. A council’s success means better services and better value for residents and businesses.”
Subject to approval, the county council will develop a full business case for Local Government Reorganisation to be submitted to Government in November 2025.