PLANS which could see Lichfield and Burntwood merged with Stoke-on-Trent in a new local authority have been backed by Staffordshire County Council’s leaders.
The Reform UK cabinet opted to support the East and West split for local government reorganisations.
It comes after the Labour Government asked for proposals for unitary authorities to replace two-tier council areas.
Under the Reform UK-backed option, services supplied by Lichfield District Council and Staffordshire County Council would now sit in an East Staffordshire body representing just under 690,000 residents from areas including Staffordshire Moorlands, East Staffordshire, Tamworth and Stoke-on-Trent.
The West Staffordshire unitary body – which includes just under 488,000 people – would then serve the Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford, Cannock Chase and South Staffordshire areas.
The backing from cabinet came despite the deputy leader previously admitting that the move would “burden” taxpayers with the financial problems of Stoke-on-Trent City Council after it previously received bail-outs to keep it functioning.
Cllr Ian Cooper, leader of Staffordshire County Council, said his administration had been forced to make tough choices.
“While we think the Government’s local government reorganisation programme is both rushed and ill-advised, we have been left with no choice but to play the hand which we have been advised will deliver the best deal for Staffordshire.”
The county council said that feedback from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government outlined how proposals also needed to set out how Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s financial challenges would be addressed to put “local government in the area as a whole on a firmer footing”.
But councillors in Stoke-on-Trent have also criticised proposals to merge them with Lichfield and Tamworth but not neighbouring Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Cllr Martin Murray, deputy leader of Staffordshire County Council and lead cabinet member for local government reorganisation, said:
“While everyone shares concerns about the financial issues at the city council, we have to follow the rules set out by Government.
“Of the all the possible options that meet the Government’s criteria, analysis has shown that an East-West option gives the best chance of success for both new councils.
“At the end of the day if this is forced through, success for both new councils must mean better services and better value for residents and businesses.”
The county council will now develop a full business case ahead of a submission to the Government in November 2025. A final option will be selected in Westminster in 2026.
Haven’t a brain cell to rub together… no logic, absolutely zero!
The North/South option would make so much more sense, Reform councillors need to justify this decision with some public meetings in every area so we can all let them know what we think.
Anyone glancing at a map can see that Stoke and Newcastle are part of the same conurbation and a considerable distance from any other large population centres in Staffordshire. It makes no sense to split them in the new local authority areas. Meanwhile Cannock, Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth have a lot in common, all being on the A5 and in Birmingham’s commuter belt, so it would make sense to keep them together. There seems to be no logic to Reform’s proposals, but maybe Reform and logic were never going to be happy bedfellows.
And supported by Burntwood’s Reform County cllrs; Clissett, Higgins and Hall?
Not going to pretend I totally understand these proposals about unitary authorities , so those of you who have more knowledge than me , please feel free to explain it to me in plain English!
I’m 60 years of age and have never been to Stoke on Trent and cannot understand what good it would do to drag Lichfield into a unitary authority with them , especially given how far away we are from them.
Does it mean Lichfield district council would no longer be needed and all decisions for Lichfield would be taken by councillors in Stoke on trent, will the residents of Lichfield , Tamworth, burntwood become cash cows for Stoke council whom I believe had to bailed out because they went broke.
Like I say , please feel free to explain in simple terms what this will mean for us all.
Many thanks
Concerned Lichfield resident