A REPORT has revealed that elections for a new unitary authority could take place in May 2027.
A decision on the preferred option for local government organisation is expected before the Parliament's summer recess.
Changes will see Lichfield District Council and Staffordshire County Council abolished, with services instead delivered by a single body.
But a number of options have been put forward for the future in Staffordshire, including a county council-backed east-west split which would see Lichfield and Burntwood in a new unitary authority with the likes of the Staffordshire Moorlands and financially-troubled Stoke-on-Trent.
However, Lichfield District Council has thrown its weight behind an alternative which would see Lichfield, East Staffordshire and Tamworth combine into a single council.
A report to Lichfield District Council's employment committee said that although no option had yet been decided on, a timeline was expected to be followed before the new unitary authority comes into being.
It said:
"We are expecting central government to announce its decision for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent prior to the summer recess.
"Following the decision, legislation would then be brought forward via a Structural Change Order (SCO) which will set out the detailed legal framework to transition to, and implement the new unitary councils.
"It is expected that elections to the shadow authorities will take place in May 2027, with the shadow council becoming responsible for planning and overseeing implementation, including governance arrangements, senior structures and future operating models.
"It is expected that ‘vesting day’ will take place on 1st April 2028 – this will be when responsibilities are transferred to the new unitary councils and predecessor councils will be formally abolished."
The report added that while a number staff leaving the council over the past year had cited local government reorganisation as a factor in their decision, the departure rate of staff had not been higher than expected.
"The council has experienced an average turnover rate of 1% per month, equating to an annual rate of 12.5% for the period June 2025 to May 2026.
"This remains within the expected range for the local government sector – typically 12% to 15% – indicating a level of local workforce stability despite the wider uncertainty."
The report will be debated at the employment committee meeting on 25th June.
