Government withdraws North Staffordshire super council plans

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 06:40 · Archive

The government has withdrawn its controversial proposal to split Staffordshire into two super councils, with new plans due by early 2027.

The government has withdrawn its controversial proposal announced in July to split Staffordshire into two super councils. The original plan would have replaced the county's ten councils with northern and southern unitary authorities, with Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle and Staffordshire Moorlands forming the new North Staffordshire unitary.

The process was paused in September following legal challenges from existing councils. Local Government Minister Jim McMahon told Parliament that the first phase of review was complete and the decision was now formally withdrawn. He said new decisions would be announced either before Christmas or early in 2027, and that all options and proposals would be reconsidered with an open mind.

McMahon said it should not be assumed that the same north-south proposal would be automatically selected, as five alternative proposals had previously been submitted by existing councils. Local elections will proceed in May under current council boundaries. The government said that replacing councils under its devolution bill would streamline services and could save money, though Prime Minister Andy Burnham acknowledged the policy was unpopular.

How it is being reported

• Plans to split county in two withdrawnThe government is planning to announce Staffordshire's new council boundaries in early 2027.BBC Stoke And Staffordshire · 30 Oct, 06:22
• Government withdraws controversial decision on North Staffordshire 'super council'A new decision on local government reorganisation in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire will be made by early next year, following a reviewStokeonTrentLive · 29 Oct, 14:05

In this story: Staffordshire · Stoke-on-Trent · Jim McMahon · Andy Burnham · Newcastle · Staffordshire Moorlands

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