Council collaboration offer on vital issues
Securing the safe restoration of Walleys Quarry, challenging forced local government reorganisation and attracting economic investment could be at the heart of close cooperation between two councils.
Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, has written to Ian Cooper, Leader of the new administration at Staffordshire County Council, detailing four ways the two authorities can work together for residents.
Cllr Tagg said:
For many years our two councils have worked together closely on behalf of residents, making a positive difference to their daily lives.
And as well as day-to-day service delivery there are clearly larger issues where it would make sense for the two councils to combine their strength and make a single argument to the Government.”
The letter invites Cllr Cooper to meet in person and discuss:
- a shared approach to achieving the full capping and restoration of the landfill site at Walleys Quarry, now that the site operator has entered liquidation.
- how to encourage Government investment into the area through devolution, while protecting the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme in the face of a forced reorganisation of local government.
- Build on successful collaborations to win Town Deal funding for Newcastle and Kidsgrove to discuss continued delivery of the projects.
- Notwithstanding the welcome given to new arrivals, via the Staffordshire Leaders’ Board continue to scrutinise the impact on communities of Serco’s approach to securing accommodation for the Home Office’s asylum dispersal scheme.
Simon Tagg added:
Regardless of the now different political control of the two councils, there is a shared commitment to do our best for residents.
I look forward to a constructive conversation between the Leaders and their Chief Executives and finding common ground for us to work on.”