County Council Cabinet considers new East and West Staffordshire councils possibility for reorganisation

Posted on Tuesday ninth September 2025

Cabinet members at Staffordshire County Council are contemplating a brand new possibility for a way native councils could possibly be organised sooner or later. 

At their assembly on 17 September, Cabinet will contemplate approving the event of a enterprise case for 2 new unitary councils – one masking the East and one masking the West of Staffordshire – as a part of the Government’s programme of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). 

The East Staffordshire council would supply providers for 689,784 individuals in Staffordshire Moorlands, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Tamworth and Stoke-on-Trent utilizing the prevailing district and borough council boundaries.

The West Staffordshire council would serve 487,794 individuals in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford, Cannock Chase and South Staffordshire.  

The new desire, which might substitute the one set out within the county council’s interim plan to Government in March 2025, is being put ahead following a interval of detailed evaluation and Government suggestions.  

Ian Cooper, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, mentioned:

Local Government Reorganisation might assist to streamline and simplify council providers, making council taxpayers cash work more durable. 

Unrealistic timescales and Government pointers danger undermining this however we are going to put ahead the strongest doable enterprise case in November to attempt to make the most effective of this case for Staffordshire’s residents and companies.” 

Under Government pointers, the county council can put ahead just one possibility for reorganisation in November.

The possibility should meet six standards set by the Government.  

Following official suggestions from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government in June 2025, it should additionally set out how Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s monetary challenges can be addressed to place ‘‘native authorities within the space as an entire on a firmer footing”. 

Martin Murray, Deputy Leader of Staffordshire County Council and Lead Cabinet Member for Local Government Reorganisation mentioned: 

In a really perfect world, we might keep away from the burden of Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s monetary misery on individuals throughout the broader county, however the Government are more likely to dismiss any possibility that doesn’t assist to resolve these lengthy working monetary issues or meet their wider standards for change. 

We will observe the principles of the sport set by Government in order that they’re compelled to contemplate the choice we put ahead.  

We need the most effective for our residents and companies – this isn’t about politics, it’s about giving Staffordshire the most effective probability of success within the circumstances. 

Of the choices that meet the Government’s standards, evaluation is displaying that an East-West possibility provides the most effective probability of success for each new councils. A council’s success means higher providers and higher worth for residents and companies.” 

Subject to approval, the county council will develop a full enterprise case for Local Government Reorganisation to be submitted to Government in November 2025.