Councillors to discuss devolution proposals

Outline plans to create two new councils in Staffordshire will be put forward at an upcoming county council cabinet meeting.

The proposal includes a new mayoral strategic authority to cover the whole county, including Stoke-on-Trent, and a new Staffordshire unitary council to provide services in areas currently run jointly by the county, district and borough councils.

It will be considered on 5 March.

The government announced in December it wanted to have the largest shake-up of local government in 50 years with its white paper on devolution.

It would see more money and powers coming to areas with a mayor, and two-tier council systems being dismantled and replaced with unitary authorities which would provide all services.

Councils in Staffordshire have been asked to submit outline plans for reorganisation to the government by 21 March.

Leader of Staffordshire County Council Alan White said two-tier local government worked in the county.

"It strikes the right balance between countywide strategic services and local council services that meet the needs of our different communities."

"The government are clear however, that they want to see this replaced with fewer, bigger unitary councils in the future."

He said the proposal aimed to unlock extra powers and funding from Westminster, to boost the local economy.

White added that the authority's priority was to ensure people would continue to receive good quality, value-for-money services, and said vital services like social care would not be dismantled.

"It's important to know that nothing has yet been agreed for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent," he said.

"This is just the start of a significant change that will take many years before it is complete.

"There are alternative proposals from neighbouring councils and we will judge these on their individual merits."

Subject to cabinet approval, the outline proposal would be put forward for consideration at Staffordshire County Council's full council meeting on 13 March.

More detailed proposals must be submitted to government by 28 November, and the earliest that changes are expected to be implemented is 2028.

Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.