Phil Corrigan, Local Democracy Reporter

Deputy commissioner fined after driving untaxed car

Staffordshire’s deputy police, fire and crime commissioner has been fined after driving an untaxed vehicle for three months. Dave Evans…

Inspectors praise progress in how Staffordshire supports vulnerable children

Inspectors say there has been a ‘significant improvement’ in the way a council responds to concerns over vulnerable children. Ofsted…

• Ofsted
• Staffordshire County Council

Leader defends scrutiny of Reform UK’s first county council budget

Staffordshire County Council’s acting leader has hit back at claims there has not been enough scrutiny of Reform UK’s first…

• Staffordshire County Council

Calls for stronger scrutiny over county council’s £840m budget plans

Councillors have called for greater scrutiny of their authority’s £840 million budget for next year. UPDATE 27th January 2026 -…

• Budget
• council tax
• Staffordshire County Council

Tensions surface in Reform group over handling of missing children interviews

A senior Reform UK councillor has criticised a cabinet colleague for calling in one of his own decisions, following a…

• Staffordshire County Council

Council tax in Staffordshire set to rise by 3.99 per cent under Reform-led budget

Staffordshire County Council is planning to increase council tax by 3.99 per cent for the 2026/27 financial year, under the…

• council tax
• Reform UK
• Staffordshire County Council

Councillors question decision to halt some missing from care interviews

Councillors have raised concerns over a decision by Staffordshire County Council to stop funding some return home interviews for children…

• Nicholas Lakin
• Staffordshire County Council

Security stepped up at Staffordshire County Council meeting after protest disruption

Extra security was put in place at Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet meeting this week, following the suspension of a previous…

• Staffordshire County Council

Anti-racism demonstrators force suspension of Staffordshire council session

A full council meeting in Stafford was brought to a standstill on Thursday morning after anti racism campaigners disrupted proceedings…

• Staffordshire County Council

County council leader steps down after Reform UK expulsion

Ian Cooper has resigned as leader of Staffordshire County Council, a few days after he was removed from Reform UK…

• Ian Cooper
• Martin Murray
• Reform UK
• Staffordshire County Council

Council leader removed from Reform UK after social media investigation

Reform UK has revoked the membership of Staffordshire County Council leader Ian Cooper. The decision follows an internal investigation linked…

• Ian Cooper
• Reform UK
• Staffordshire County Council

Reform UK looks into social media posts linked to Staffordshire council leader

Reform UK is investigating social media accounts linked to Staffordshire council leader Ian Cooper after Hope Not Hate highlighted a…

• Ian Cooper
• Staffordshire County Council

Reform administration criticised by Conservatives after fall in pothole repairs

Pothole repairs across Staffordshire have fallen since the spring elections, prompting fresh criticism from Conservative figures who say the new…

• potholes
• Staffordshire County Council

Will a new police AI pilot reduce the long 101 waits faced by Stone callers

Could AI support help Stone residents get faster answers on the 101 line. Senior officers say the pilot will handle…

• Becky Riggs
• Staffordshire Police

Stone set to sit in the west under county council reorganisation plan

Stone would sit in a new western authority under Staffordshire County Council’s preferred east–west split, which leaders say offers a…

• Staffordshire County Council

Stone residents set to benefit from new stalking support

New support is being put in place for stalking victims across Staffordshire, with services like New Era available to residents…

• Ben Adams
• Staffordshire Police