The four group leaders on Stafford Borough Council have joined forces to call for a single unitary authority to deliver all services in the southern area of the county.

In a letter to fellow elected members and parish councillors the leaders have set out why they are in favour of one unitary covering council services in the south - complementing a single unitary in the north - which they say would be in the best interests of their residents and businesses.

The Government has set out legislation that would see all district, borough, city and county councils in Staffordshire abolished to be replaced by larger unitary authorities.  

Now the leaders of the four groups on the borough council - Labour, Stafford Borough Independents, Conservatives, and Greens - have united behind a proposal for the new council to cover the areas of Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, South Staffordshire, Tamworth and Stafford Borough.

Council leader, Aidan Godfrey (Labour), Rob Kenney (Stafford Borough Independents and Council Deputy Leader), Jeremy Pert (Conservative) and Doug Rouxel (Green Party) said the proposal would save council taxpayers money, provide for a more resilient authority while placing it as an ‘economic powerhouse’ in the region which would help draw more investment and job opportunities to the area.

It follows an alternative plan that could see the southern and mid Staffordshire districts split - with Stafford Borough, Cannock Chase and South Staffordshire becoming one unitary and East Staffs, Lichfield and Tamworth the other - a move that Cllr Godfrey said would cost more, make it more difficult to attract funding and slow down economic growth and job creation.

He continued: “Local Government Reorganisation is not what the group leaders wanted at this time - but the Government has made the decision to abolish us, so we must change. We believe the single southern unitary is the best option for the residents of our area. This will be the biggest change in service delivery in fifty years; it must be right for our residents, not only for now but also the future.”

The letter states: “A single southern unitary authority will be more financially stable, be able to attract more inward investment, will not fragment vital services, be strong enough to secure Government funding, be less likely to be put into special measures and be able to compete with the strong city led north Staffordshire and the West Midlands authorities.”

Councillor Godfrey added: “Our priority is that our residents and communities must come first in any reorganisation.  

“We believe the proposal for a single southern unitary will achieve this - and it sends a very powerful message to Government, that the group leaders representing different political colours on Stafford Borough Council are united behind that proposal.”    

More information around Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution can be found at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/lgr

Press Release No 6241