It's Yes to Stoke from Both the County and District Councils

Both Staffordshire County Council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council have announced that they have submitted their final plans to central government for their preference as to how Staffordshire's local government should be organised in the very near future. They propose a completely different approach from each other but both include Stoke-on-Trent despite many Staffordshire Moorlands councillors objections and the say no to Stoke campaign.

SCC (Staffordshire County Council) propose creating two new councils – Staffordshire East and Staffordshire West – to replace the current county, city, district and borough councils across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Leader Ian Cooper said:

"We have made it clear that Local Government Reorganisation is not something that Staffordshire wants or needs. However, this is a demand from Government and we have a duty to put forward what will work best for the county and city as a whole. 

Having worked within the Government’s parameters, the East-West option is the best financial option and gives both new councils the best chance of success and of the options considered, this means better services and better value for residents and businesses.”

If the Government chooses this option, Staffordshire East would cover Staffordshire Moorlands, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Tamworth and Stoke-on-Trent – serving around 690,000 people. Staffordshire West would cover Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford, Cannock Chase and South Staffordshire – serving around 488,000 people.

Meanwhile cabinet members at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council have agreed to submit a Proposal calling for a new North Staffordshire unitary council and a Southern and Mid-Staffordshire unitary council delivering all local government services in the county, but emphasises that this should be an Enhanced North Staffordshire that includes Uttoxeter, Stone and their surrounding villages as well as the city of Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Councillors believes its Enhanced North Staffordshire Proposal would be more robust financially, economically, democratically and culturally. It argues that adding about 60,000 people from the Uttoxeter and Stone areas to North Staffordshire would create a better balance of populations: about 536,000 in the North and 598,000 in the South of the county.

Leader Mike Gledhill said: “We see real benefits from having an Enhanced North Staffordshire, not least in creating a greater voice for the North of the county."

“Our Enhanced North Staffordshire would see more councillors from outside of Stoke-on-Trent than from the city, ensuring the interests of North Staffordshire’s towns and rural areas would be well represented; a higher council tax base, with the whole of the key A50 Growth Corridor and businesses like JCB and Bet365 coming under one council.

"Our proposal acknowledges Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s financial position. The city council’s financial plans have been approved by the Government, together with a strong asset base, gives a sound foundation for the future."

“A Stoke-on-Trent that succeeds is vital for many of us who work in the city or use its facilities, while greater funding coming into North Staffordshire as a whole can only be but positive to help address issues that have dogged the Moorlands for years like poor public transport and connectivity.”

This clearly demonstrates that if the County and District cannot work together to agree on something so vital for our region, given that many county councillors are also district councillors, then the running of two councils concurrently, plus the added layer of town and parish councils, cannot hope to successfully coexist for day-to-day matters either. By not submitting a united voice, this will mean that the government will make the decision directly, in the same way as someone whose kids have opposing views on park or cinema will end up pleasing no one.

We are told that SMDC is unwilling to cooperate with the process of giving the opportunity to towns and parishes to explore taking back previously locally managed assets such as car parks, something which is happening in other areas of the country. SMDC took control of many local assets when they were formed in 1974. Many residents and councillors fear that moving the management of local assets to a central, much bigger council will mean residents will lose their voice and local knowledge vital for the assets survival will be lost.

There is, of course, the risk that town and parish councils may not have the skills or finances in place to take over these assets, but a full and frank discussion surely should take place? Many of these assets could potentially be externally managed by outside companies or collaborations with other authorities in the same way that SMDC does now. Staffordshire County Council has been upfront about what they own in given areas when asked, and the approach from Moorlands town and parish councils varies from "We want everything" to "We don't want to discuss it."

The Government will now review all proposals and decide which ones to take forward for public consultation in early 2026. A final decision is expected next summer.

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It's Yes to Stoke from Both the County and District Councils - created 29.11.25