The Government has withdrawn its decision to replace Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent’s existing councils with two new authorities, following a review of local government reorganisation.
The announcement on Thursday 29 October means the previously selected north and south council arrangement is no longer confirmed, with ministers now reconsidering all five proposals submitted for the area.
However, the Government has made clear that council reorganisation has not been cancelled, and it still intends to replace the existing system with larger unitary authorities.
For Stone residents, there are no immediate changes to council services. Stafford Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council will continue to provide services as normal.
What has changed for Stone?
Under the decision originally announced in July, Stone would have become part of a new Southern and Mid Staffordshire authority alongside Stafford, East Staffordshire, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Tamworth and South Staffordshire.
A northern council would have covered Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands.
The Government paused those plans in September following legal challenges and a review of the reorganisation programme.
That decision has now been formally withdrawn.
The Government will reconsider all five proposals originally submitted by Staffordshire’s councils, including an alternative from Staffordshire County Council to divide the area into eastern and western authorities.
Another proposal, submitted by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, would place Stone and surrounding parishes within a new northern council rather than an authority covering Stafford.
Stone Town Council previously supported the north and south arrangement that kept Stone with Stafford, citing the importance of maintaining the town’s existing links with Stafford.
Government says all options remain open
Local Government Minister Jim McMahon told the House of Commons that the first phase of the review had been completed and decisions covering Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, along with eight other areas, were being formally withdrawn.
He said
“To be clear, all options and proposals in these areas will remain under consideration and I will approach all those with an open mind. As such, it should not be assumed that the same proposal will be automatically selected. It’s important to allow the process to run its course and to allow full and proper consideration.
“We will move faster where we can, and some of the remaining areas may receive an outcome before others. I commit to coming back to the House for an update with another set of areas by Christmas, and every area will have an outcome by early next year.”
Mr McMahon said the review had found that the overall local government reorganisation programme was robust and reiterated the Government’s commitment to replacing the existing two tier system of councils.
The Government has also indicated that it intends to proceed with reorganisation in five other areas of England, subject to a further period for representations.
Staffordshire County Council seeks £1.1 million reimbursement
Staffordshire County Council has criticised the withdrawal of the decision and called for the Government to reimburse money already spent preparing for reorganisation.
Councillor Hayley Coles, Acting Leader of the council, said
“Staffordshire did not ask for council reorganisation. We committed significant time and money, now, the Government has withdrawn its decision, leaving our staff and communities facing yet more uncertainty.
“It still has not explained what its review has covered, what evidence informed its decision or how it will address the imbalance in democratic representation and protect local taxpayers. Withdrawing a decision is not a substitute for explaining it. Our confidence in this process is wearing thin.”
Councillor Coles called for the full £1.1 million spent by the county council developing its plans to be reimbursed.
The Government has acknowledged the cost of uncertainty and announced that it will release part of its previously promised transition funding to areas under review.
For Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, this amounts to £900,000 across the area, with the remaining funding due after a final decision is made.
Opposition to the northern council proposal
The north and south arrangement has faced particularly strong opposition in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands.
Jonathan Gullis, leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, described the Government’s latest announcement as a delay rather than a reprieve.
He said
“This is a delay, not a reprieve. Labour’s plans would abolish Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, ending more than 850 years of independent borough government. That is an abomination.”
Councillor Gullis said that once the final decision is made, the borough council will ask its King’s Counsel to examine possible grounds for a judicial review.
Newcastle-under-Lyme MP Adam Jogee also criticised the original decision during the Commons debate and called for greater focus on devolution.
He said
“I welcome the announcement that the minister has scrapped what I would call the disgraceful and discourteous announcement made in July. He’s right to throw it out. But my constituents in Newcastle-under-Lyme want and deserve certainty and clarity, and I didn’t hear much of it in the statement.”
Stoke-on-Trent North MP David Williams argued that the current system, which divides services between different councils, causes confusion for residents.
He said
“If a resident wants to raise issues with a local park, they go and speak to the borough council. If they want a pothole fixed, they have to speak to the county council. And at the same time we’re paying for managers and directors at two councils rather than one, which is a waste of public taxpayers’ money.”
Mr Williams also called for clarity over the future of local government in Staffordshire.
The Government has separately announced that it is in the final stages of agreeing plans for a strategic mayoral authority for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Mr McMahon told MPs that he supported devolution but that it needed a strong foundation of local government.
What happens next?
The Government expects to announce its decision on the remaining reorganisation proposals by early 2027, although some areas could receive an answer before Christmas.
Local elections scheduled for May 2027 will take place on existing council boundaries.
Under the revised timetable, elections to the new councils are expected in May 2028, with the new authorities beginning to operate in April 2029.
Until then, residents should continue accessing council services in the usual way, including bin collections, planning, highways and social care.
Further information is available through the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent local government reorganisation website.
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