One week left to have your say on Staffordshire’s biggest council shake-up in 50 years

People in Stone and across Staffordshire have just over a week left to give their views on plans that could reshape local government for decades.

A government consultation is open until Thursday 26 March 2026, asking residents, businesses and community groups what they think about major changes to how council services are run across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

What is changing

The consultation centres on proposals to replace the current county, borough, district and city councils with a smaller number of new unitary authorities.

That would mean single councils taking responsibility for all local services in each area, instead of services being split between different authorities.

In practice, that covers things such as adult social care, children’s services, planning, bin collections, roads, cemeteries and other day to day local services.

Five different proposals are now on the table.

Some would create two unitary councils across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Others suggest three or four. One proposal would also split parts of existing district areas at parish level.

For Stone, that matters because Stafford Borough in its current form would disappear under every option, with the town becoming part of a new larger authority instead.

Why it matters

This is not a change that will happen overnight.

The Government is expected to make a final decision in summer 2026, and existing councils would continue to operate as normal in the meantime. Any new unitary councils are not expected to be in place until April 2028 at the earliest.

Even so, it is a significant moment.

Council leaders say the outcome will shape how services are delivered for future generations, and they are urging people not to leave it until the last minute to respond.

Martin Murray, chair of the Staffordshire Leaders’ Board, said:

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to influence how local services are delivered across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent for decades to come.

The consultation is open to everyone. With just days left to respond, we’re calling on residents, businesses and community organisations to make sure their voice is heard.

“The proposals under consideration impact communities in different ways. Whatever the outcome, this process will shape the councils that serve our communities for generations. It matters that as many people as possible take part.”

Jane Ashworth, vice chair of the Staffordshire Leaders’ Board, said:

“People across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have a real stake in how their local area is served, and this consultation gives everyone the chance to feed into that decision.

I’d encourage people not to leave it too late. Take a look at the proposals and share your thoughts before the deadline.”

How to respond

The consultation closes at 11.59pm on Thursday 26 March 2026.

People can read the five proposals and send in their views through the official local government reorganisation website.

LGR Proposals Page – https://staffordshirestokelgr.org.uk/proposals/

The consultation is being run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

For Stone residents, it is one of the biggest questions hanging over local services right now, even if the final shape of any new council is still some way off.

Whether people feel strongly about local decision-making, service delivery, or simply want to understand where Stone could fit in future, this is the window for having a say.