Councillor Martin Murray, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said:
“This is an eleventh-hour decision from Government, made with little warning and even less detail.
“Councils across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have worked flat out to meet Government’s timetable, following their rules. To pause now wastes time, drains capacity and undermines confidence.
“The timetable is broken. Government must stop wasting our time and energy, give councils straight answers and put devolution first.
“Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent need a strategic authority, a stronger voice and the power to make decisions locally. We will keep pressing for that.”
