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# Local Labour chiefs say new unitary authority will be better for residents
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/local-labo/
- Published: 2026-07-19T06:30:28.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-19T06:30:44.000Z
- Description: Staffordshire County Council and Lichfield District Council to replaced by single body.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Politics, News

LOCAL Labour leaders have welcomed the news that all council services will be delivered by a new unitary authority.

The Government has opted to replace Staffordshire County Council and Lichfield District Council in favour of a new body.

It will mean the current county are will be split into north and south unitary authorities, with Lichfield and Burntwood in with areas such as Tamworth, Burton, East Staffordshire, South Staffordshire and Cannock Chase.

In total, the new council will represent around 682,000 people.

Lichfield Labour Chair Ann Hughes said that the change will bring decisions affecting local residents closer – and be simpler.

She explained:

> "At the moment, Staffordshire County Council covers a huge area and can feel remote – it has to balance the needs of Burntwood and Biddulph, or Chorley and Cheadle.  
>  
> "And the split in responsibilities between Staffordshire County Council and Lichfield District Council is confusing and complicated.  
>  
> "For example, Lichfield District Council is responsible for most car parks, but Staffordshire is responsible for most roads. Surely a simpler, one-stop shop for local government is a better idea.  
>  
> "The changes mean that all local services will be brought under one roof covering south Staffordshire. It’s a smaller area, so decisions can be made more locally – and it’s a far better proposal than the one that Reform put forward to simply split Staffordshire into east and west, meaning that Burntwood would have been in the same council area as the fringes of the Peak District where needs are totally different."

Lichfield District Council's Labour opposition group leader Cllr Russ Bragger added:

> "The Labour government has given us a blueprint to simplify local government and make it more accessible for people with services ranging from waste disposal to housing.  
>  
> "In May next year, elections will be held for the councillors who’ll govern the new authority. I urge the people of Lichfield, Burntwood and the villages to avoid the shouters, the stop-the-boaters and the clueless – it’s an opportunity to elect councillors who understand how local government works, and who’ll work for the benefit of the people of the new council area."