• New economic strategy for Staffordshire approved

• Five delivery priorities set out to shape county's growth

• County council will lead, collaborate and advocate projects to build resilient economy

• 300 to benefit from extra help
• Increased payments to schools
• Value for money support for families

• People urged to have their say on local government reorganisation

• Consultation on proposals to replace county, district, borough and city councils with a smaller number of new unitary councils

• Deadline is Thursday 26 March

• The county council has agreed a £138 million investment to fix roads, tackle potholes and improve public transport, with more than half of the funding focused on maintaining the county’s highways.

• The programme shifts the focus to preventative maintenance, helping to reduce disruption, deliver longer lasting repairs and make better use of public money.

• It also includes major transport improvements, investing in better buses, safer walking and cycling routes, and more reliable journeys across Staffordshire

• More than 2,000 carers have accessed training through new social care learning platform
• The training launched as a pilot in 2025 and has proven to be successful
• The learning portal offers free or low-cost courses and includes e-learning and in-person training sessions

• Lord Lieutenant Professor Elizabeth Barnes has appointed three new Deputy Lieutenants
• The new appointees are Jonathan Joseph Mannion CStJ, Mohammed Khuram and Philip Edward Pusey MBE, MCM
• The Deputy Lieutenants began their roles on Monday 16 March, with a formal ceremony taking place later in the year

• Reform UK members have elected Martin Murray as their new Leader in Staffordshire.
• Martin will remain in his existing post until the county council's Leader is formally selected at Full Council.
• Hayley Coles has been appointed as Deputy Group Leader.

• Country park visitors are being reminded to stick to paths and keep their dogs on leads to protect wildlife.

• Cannock Chase is one of the region’s most important strongholds for adders, which have declined sharply across the UK.

• Protecting rare species such as adders is a key part of the council’s refreshed Natural Environment Strategy.

• Amy Stokes, 16, from Tamworth has won the Staffy art trail design competition.

• Her winning design will be painted onto one of the Staffordshire Day art trail's Staffy sculptures, with the help of a professional local artist.

• With English Tourism Week launching today, Staffordshire celebrates its growing visitor economy which has seen overnight visitors rise by more than 5%.

• A rogue trader is ordered to pay back £240k to victims or face more time in prison.

• Richard Stubbs has been given three months to pay or will face two and a half more years in jail.

• Stubbs was found guilty of fraud, fraudulent trading and perverting the course of justice for ripping off customers and leaving them severely out of pocket.