A sponsored social media advert is circulating for users of Facebook in Stone, advising that the government is planning to replace Staffordshire’s existing councils with a “simpler, more efficient system”.
The advert, which appears under the brand Give My View and links to a website operated by consultancy firm Built-ID, calls on residents to complete a survey and “shape the future of Stone today”. It also states: “The government is changing councils across Staffordshire with a simpler system.”
However, A Little Bit of Stone can confirm that neither Stafford Borough Council nor Staffordshire County Council are behind this campaign, so who is collecting this data?
We have contacted the Facebook page running the advert and Built-ID via the contact details on their website to seek clarity on who is commissioning the campaign, but no information has been provided.
Nationally, the government is proposing that district councils be abolished and their functions be merged into unitary authorities. This will have significant implications for residents in Stone, potentially altering how services such as planning, waste collection, education and social care are delivered.
For now, residents should be aware that this advert does not come from any of the existing councils in the area.
