Devolved powers for the region have been discussed at a special summit in Staffordshire.
The event looked at how areas such as health, investment, care and skills training could be improved by closer collaboration between local authorities, including Lichfield District Council.
There have already been calls for Staffordshire to push for a devolution deal after councillors in Lichfield and Burntwood opted not to join a West Midlands link-up.
Cllr Philip Atkins, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said this latest summit showed that the region was already developing ways to explore ways of working together.
“Partnerships such as Midlands Connect, which will shape at a local level strategic priorities for transport in the wider region, are evidence that in many ways devolution is already happening,” he said.
“The summit was a great chance for districts, boroughs, the city and the county to explore how we can build on this further in Staffordshire.
“While it is right for greater funding and influence to flow from Central Government to the hands of local decision makers, it is important that we are all absolutely clear about what we want, how it will work and what benefits it will bring to Staffordshire and the people who live and work here.”
