What's Happing with Our Local Government?
- Jan 5
- 2 min read
Part 1
Major changes are set to go ahead with local government over the next two years (LRG & Devolution). We've asked right from the start what this means for South Moorlands. You can see our previous articles by searching "devolution" from the search bar at cheadlecog.com. Over the coming months, we'll continue to keep you up to date with changes and challenges as they emerge. Here's what we know right now:
By April 2028, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and Staffordshire County Council will be replaced by a new combined council, with all services operational by that time.
All district and borough councils in Staffordshire will also be dissolved.
Despite strong objections from several prominent local councillors, all proposals submitted to central government include merging Staffordshire Moorlands with Stoke-on-Trent. Notably, councils were required to consult with local residents, organisations, and businesses, but there has been minimal local engagement in South Moorlands.
Devolution is mandated by the central government, and while councils can influence certain aspects of the process, they do not have full control. Decisions will ultimately be made by central government, so expect some polling and information gathering later in the year.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Staffordshire County Council, and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council have all submitted their proposals to central government, each suggesting different plans.
Central government is currently determining the best course of action for many regions, including Staffordshire. The entire process must be completed by April 2028, and for Staffordshire Moorlands, this will likely involve separating from the High Peak Council, which currently provides many shared services.
Further information: Staffordshire is a challenging county to modify in order to meet the central government's guidelines. The new region or regions must have at least 500,000 residents and Stoke-on-Trent, the sole city, cannot stand alone as an isolated entity. You can read the complete guidelines here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-reorganisation-invitation-to-local-authorities-in-two-tier-areas/letter-staffordshire-and-stoke-on-trent.
Why is LGR/devolution important to me?
If you live in certain parts of the county - the ones that have a strong voice currently you are likely to see changes in services - where you pay your council tax, who empties your bins etc. but in the short term your buildings and physical services will most likely remain. Things like markets, leisure centres and car parks might have different signs and prices but if it's working the new authority probably won't change it too much at first. That will not hold true once they are bedded in, services and assets could be redeveloped or sold.
If you live in parts of the county that don't have strong voices currently and have been neglected by the current administration, then it's likely that you will feel the changes more harshly and more quickly. Anything that is currently planned is in jeopardy of not being completed, and time is now too short to start anything major in our view. We've asked for clarity on whether there are government guidelines on development and look forward to letting you know their responses on this.
What's Happing with Our Local Government? created 5.1.26
