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The government’s plan for change

Government invite councils to submit plans

In December 2024, the government published a document called the English Devolution White Paper. 

Part of this document set out plans to reorganise the way local councils work.

The government aim to simplify the way local government works by:

  • Creating unitary councils: These would be single councils responsible for all local government services within a particular area.
  • Ensuring councils are a suitable size to be efficient and effective.
 

In February 2025, the government wrote to all councils in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to ask them to put forward proposals for local government reorganisation.

Essentially, this will change the number and size of councils across the area and who is responsible for what.

STAFFS LGR IMAGE 3

Fewer councils in the future

Right now, in many parts of England, there are two or more levels of council:

  • County councils: These cover larger areas and deal with things like education, social care, and transportation.
  • District or borough councils: These cover areas within counties and handle things like local planning, housing, and waste collection.
  • Unitary councils: These provide all council services for their area.
  • Parish and town councils: These councils may look after very local amenities such as allotments, public clocks, play areas and equipment.
In Staffordshire, we have:
  • Staffordshire County Council, which covers the whole of Staffordshire.
  • Eight district and borough councils. These are Cannock Chase District Council, East Staffordshire Borough Council, Lichfield District Council, Newcastle Under-Lyme Borough Council, South Staffordshire District Council, Stafford Borough Council, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and Tamworth Borough Council. 
  • A unitary council – Stoke-on-Trent City Council. They are responsible for providing all council services in their area.
  • And 180 town or parish councils.
 
Local government reorganisation will see Staffordshire’s existing county, city, district and borough councils replaced with fewer unitary councils in the future. Unitary councils provide all council services for a given area. 

Exactly what this looks like will be decided by the government. 

Read proposals for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent

Five separate proposals have been put forward by councils in the area for the government to consider. You can read the proposals here. 
 
Please note that population figures quoted are using a range of sources including 2021 Census Data and 2024 ONS Estimates. Specific detail on population data and projections is included within the proposals.