Work begins on new council that will take over services in Stone from 2028

Work to create two new Staffordshire councils, including the authority that will eventually take over council services in Stone, is now underway.

Work to create two new Staffordshire councils, including the authority that will eventually take over many council services in Stone, is now underway.

Councillors have been given details of the work planned over the next 20 months as Staffordshire prepares for one of the biggest changes to local government in the county for decades.

The Government confirmed its preferred structure last month, with Staffordshire County Council and the existing district and borough councils replaced by two unitary authorities.

Stone will become part of a new southern Staffordshire council covering Stafford Borough, East Staffordshire, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, South Staffordshire and Tamworth, with a combined population of more than 680,000.

A northern council will cover Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands, serving more than 490,000 people.

What happens to Stone Town Council?

Stone Town Council is not being abolished as part of the reorganisation and will continue to exist.

The changes affect Stafford Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council, which currently provide many of the services used by people in Stone. Their responsibilities will eventually transfer to the new unitary authority.

Stone Town Council will remain the town’s most local tier of council, continuing separately from the new larger authority.

There is no immediate change to any of the councils. Stafford Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council will continue operating and delivering services until the new authority formally takes over on 1 April 2028.

Members of Staffordshire County Council’s Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee were given an update on the reorganisation at their latest meeting, where concerns were raised about the timetable and the potential impact on residents and council staff.

Council leader Martin Murray said

“Our focus now is to work constructively across the area to support implementation and ensure new agreements are delivered safely and effectively. Essentially, services will continue to be delivered while transition work takes place in parallel, so there is nothing to worry about for any residents or businesses at all.

“Officers have already done a significant amount of work preparation. This includes establishing programme governance, creating a joint way of working across Staffordshire and Stoke City councils.

“The next phase will be about readiness and implementation following the decision, to agree joint working agreements with partners across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, including setting up of voluntary joint committees.”

These temporary committees will oversee work on the transition, including setting up a joint implementation team responsible for the detailed preparations needed for the two new councils.

Elections planned for May 2027

A Structural Change Order will set out the formal legal framework for the reorganisation.

Elections to the two new authorities are due to take place in May 2027. They will initially operate as shadow councils, replacing the joint committees and acting as temporary governing bodies while preparations continue.

The shadow councils will develop their initial budgets, constitutions, senior staffing structures and key policies.

The existing councils will remain responsible for services throughout this period.

The major change comes on 1 April 2028, known as vesting day, when the existing county, district and borough councils will be abolished and the new unitary authorities take responsibility for services.

Concerns over the timetable

Councillor Bob Egginton questioned whether the timetable could be achieved.

He said

“Does everybody think we can meet the timescales on this? There’s an awful lot of work and I wonder, if we do run over, what would the cost be?

“I’m questioning why six or seven other councils have initiated a judicial review. Should a judicial review be launched against the Government’s LGR statutory change order?”

Councillor Murray said the circumstances behind legal challenges elsewhere were different from those in Staffordshire.

He said

“The timescale, frankly, looks a little insane. It’s important we must get on with this work; failure to do so can actually put people at risk, vulnerable people and vital services that we in local government have to deliver.”

Councillor Alex Farrell also raised concerns that the reorganisation could affect councils’ ability to concentrate on major projects while substantial resources are devoted to creating the new authorities.

He said

“As we look around the county, my biggest concern with LGR is that Staffordshire will effectively stagnate for the next few years because councils are winding up their big projects and not embarking on anything new for residents, so we’re just doing business as usual.

“The first couple of years of the council will be frantically trying to set up a brand new council, not thinking ahead to big, important projects for our residents.”

He added

“I am concerned we are going to be putting our officers, not just in the county council but in the districts and boroughs, under undue stress to get this ready in time.”

For Stone residents, there is no immediate change to how council services are accessed. Stafford Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council will continue operating until the new authority formally takes over on 1 April 2028.