Local government reorganisation proposal

The government is proposing that the structure of local authorities may change under its english devolution plans.

These state that the government wishes to see local government reorganisation (LGR) for all areas, like Staffordshire, which have both county and borough/district councils. They wish to replace these with new, larger ‘unitary’ councils, which would deliver all council services in an area.

Under its current planned timetable, the government wants to see these new unitary councils up and running by 2028. This will mean that all existing borough and district councils in our county, Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council would be abolished.

Proposals for the new unitary councils were invited from the existing councils and were submitted in November 2025.