Local Government Reorganisation

Published: 29 October 2026

29/10/26

Devolution, a New Staffordshire Mayor and Local Government Reorganisation

The Government has made two announcements regarding local government in Staffordshire.

These changes fall into two separate but related programmes:

1. Devolution - the creation of a Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Mayoral Strategic Authority.
2. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) - which will determine the future structure of principal councils across Staffordshire.

Although both programmes are being considered at the same time, they are separate processes and are operating on different timescales.

A New Mayor for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent (Mayoral Strategic Authority)

The Government has confirmed its intention to establish a Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Mayoral Strategic Authority. This would create a directly elected Mayor responsible for strategic functions across the area, including economic growth, transport, skills and investment. The authority will also receive a share of income tax growth generated within the area.

The proposed authority would operate alongside local councils at a strategic level and would not replace town, parish, district, borough, city or county councils. Instead, it would provide strategic leadership and bring additional devolved powers and funding into Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

The Government said the devolution package includes substantial long-term investment funding from Government and is intended to provide greater local control over key decisions affecting the economy and public services.

Local Government Reorganisation

Separate from the devolution proposals, the Government is continuing its review of local government structures. Today, the Government announced that several proposals which were paused in July will now proceed. Staffordshire is not one of those areas.

Earlier this year, the Government indicated a preferred direction for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. However, in a statement to Parliament today, Ministers confirmed that the previous July decisions for nine areas, including Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, have been formally withdrawn and will be reconsidered. Ministers have said they will use the coming weeks to undertake further consideration before reaching final conclusions.

They stated that they remain committed to creating unitary authorities across England and expect to confirm decisions for the remaining areas no later than early 2027. The Government has also reaffirmed its intention to introduce its programme of Neighbourhood Governance next year.

2027 Local Elections Timetable

The Government has again confirmed that elections scheduled for May 2027 will proceed for the existing district and borough councils, where elections are already due to take place.

What Does This Mean for Parish and Town Councils?

As with previous announcements, there are no immediate changes to the powers, structure, duties or responsibilities of parish and town councils. However, should Local Government Reorganisation proceed, parish and town councils are likely to become increasingly important to local residents as the tier of local government closest to them. We anticipate that there may be more expected of us by our local communities, as has happened elsewhere when LGR took place.

The role of parish and town councils within the Government's proposed Neighbourhood Governance framework also remains undefined and further detail is awaited.

Next Steps

The Government has made clear that it remains committed to local government reorganisation in Staffordshire. They state the announcement relates to reconsiderations of the preferred structures, rather than whether reorganisation itself will take place. The Government has indicated that it will be consulting local MPs and council leaders before any announcement.

The Government has also indicated that decisions will be announced as they are reached, rather than grouping counties into tranches. Final decisions for all remaining areas undergoing review are expected in early 2027.

We will continue to keep members updated as further information becomes available.

Kind regards,

Staffordshire Parish Councils’ Association

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 16/7/26

The Government has just made its decision on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

 

As you will be aware, the Government is dissolving County Councils and District/Borough Councils and replacing them with Unitary Councils. This brings to an end a system that has operated in Staffordshire since 1974.

The Government has decided that the District/Borough Councils and Staffordshire County Council will be reorganised into the following unitary councils –

Southern and Mid Staffordshire Unitary consisting of: Cannock, Stafford, South Staffordshire, Lichfield, Tamworth, East Staffordshire.

North Staffordshire Unitary consisting of: Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire Moorlands.

Further details are available here - https://staffordshirestokelgr.org.uk/.

The new councils will take over services on 1^st April 2028, following Unitary Council elections in May 2027.