The Government will be told that a single unitary council covering six local authority areas in the south of Staffordshire is the best option for the area.

Senior councillors approved a proposal for a Southern and Mid-Staffordshire unitary authority comprising of Stafford Borough along with the areas of Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, South Staffordshire, and Tamworth.

Council leader, Aidan Godfrey said they had given their consent to signal the end of more than 50 years of the borough council.

Currently there is a ‘two-tier’ system of local government - with Stafford Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council delivering different services and functions to its communities.

For example, the borough is responsible for the household waste collection service, planning, and parks - whereas Staffordshire County Council deals with education, roads, and social care.

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

Stafford Borough Council’s Cabinet discussed the proposals at a meeting last night and unanimously agreed a business case for a single unitary authority delivering all services and functions across the six council areas in the south.

The business case - which is also backed by Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, and Stoke on Trent City councils - will now be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by Friday 28 November.

The cabinet heard their preferred option complemented plans for a single unitary in the north and had been supported by Stoke-on-Trent City Council - which would also include the areas of Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands.

The report to councillors stated the option is estimated to save taxpayers nearly £30m a year and provide for a more financially resilient authority able to deliver service improvements. And the proposed business case also sets out a series of other advantages that the single unitary vision for Southern and Mid-Staffordshire would deliver such as:

• A smoother transition, especially vital for social care and education services
• A greater voice regionally than if there was more than one unitary in the south
• Easier for residents having a single council delivering all services in the south

The report added that the single unitary will ‘retain and maintain a close connection with our local communities, protect their uniqueness, and ensure that their needs are met’ through close working with town and parish councils and the use of new neighbourhood area committees.

Alternative options not supported by the Stafford councillors included splitting the county with a unitary in the East and another in the West - and a proposal for two unitaries in the South with one in the North.

Councillor Godfrey, said they were making a key decision in the history of the authority: “We have just voted to give our consent to the end of Stafford Borough Council - a council which for over 50 years has provided services of a very high standard to the public.”

After the meeting he added: “The borough council is well-run and financially sound and we will play a key role in the preparation for the new local government arrangements.

“We now need to look forward with optimism and purpose to establishing a new single southern unitary which is the best option for the residents and businesses in our area. It will be more financially stable, be able to attract more inward investment and not fragment vital services.”

You can see the full cabinet report from Cabinet | Stafford Borough Council

Press Release 6252