Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council are pleased to hear of the Government’s decision to begin talks on giving the area greater control over transport, skills, housing and economic growth.
A Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA) could bring new powers and investment to the area, helping local leaders make more decisions about transport, skills, jobs, housing and economic growth.
The MSA would work alongside local councils, not replace them. Councils will continue to provide services such as household bin collections, social care, children’s services, council tax and street cleaning, with no immediate changes for residents, staff or services.
Councillor Hayley Coles, Acting Leader of Staffordshire County Council said:
"Today's announcement is great news for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. It is a chance for us to have a stronger voice and more say over the important decisions that affect us.
“We want Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to get a fair deal, and we will ensure that devolution works for the whole of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, with the benefits felt by all our communities, residents and businesses.
“We know our area best, and this is an opportunity to shape our own future."
Jane Ashworth, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said:
"This is an important step forward in giving Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire the powers and funding we deserve to shape our future.
"Without an MSA we would inevitably have to watch other places get more, simply because they have a mayor and we do not. An MSA puts us at the head of the pack.
"We know this city and county have huge potential - and the key to unlocking that is putting the power in the hands of the people who live and work here, not bureaucrats in Westminster."
The announcement follows a joint expression of interest submitted by local authority leaders in March 2026 and a subsequent letter from the leaders of Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council confirming shared support for a Mayoral Strategic Authority for the area.
Devolution is separate from local government reorganisation and there will be no immediate change to council services.
Subject to agreement with Government, there will be a consultation towards the end of the year. The new authority could be set up in autumn 2027 with the mayor elected in May 2028.
