Council maintains opposition as Staffordshire reorganisation decision withdrawn
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has reaffirmed its opposition to local government reorganisation following the Government’s withdrawal of a previous decision for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
The July decision proposed one unitary authority covering Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Moorlands, and a second covering the rest of Staffordshire.
Minister for Local Government Jim McMahon MP confirmed that reorganisation remains Government policy, with all options and proposals for the area being considered, and an outcome scheduled for early 2027.
The Government’s revised timetable provides for elections to shadow councils in May 2028 and new authorities becoming operational in 2029.
Jonathan Gullis, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said:
The Government has withdrawn its previous decision, but it has not withdrawn its intention to reorganise local government. Our opposition remains unchanged.
This council has asked Ministers to explain the evidence and financial assessment behind their proposals. Residents deserve clear answers about the costs, the risks and how any new arrangements would improve their services.
We regard this reorganisation as unnecessary and unwanted. It would divert public money and staff resources from frontline services while replacing established councils with larger authorities whose decision-making would be further removed from the communities they serve.
We remain particularly concerned that borough taxpayers could be required to shoulder a share of Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s substantial debt and financial pressures. Our residents did not create those liabilities and should not face higher council tax, reduced services or resources being diverted from their communities to meet them.
Any decision must address those financial risks openly and demonstrate why abolishing our borough council, with more than 850 years of independent local government, is justified.”
Cllr Gullis added:
Once the Government issues a formal decision, we will immediately ask our King’s Counsel to assess whether there are grounds for a Judicial Review. We must await that decision before taking that step, and any challenge would depend on the legal advice received.
Our priority remains protecting residents, local services and democratic accountability.”
The council continues to support the proposed Mayoral Strategic Authority for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Cllr Gullis said:
The Government should abandon unnecessary council reorganisation and concentrate on meaningful devolution of powers and funding.
We will work constructively with Ministers and our partners to secure arrangements that help attract investment, create better-paid jobs, improve skills and apprenticeships, and deliver a more joined-up public transport network.
Those opportunities should be pursued without requiring the abolition of our borough council.”
The Government’s announcement can be read here.