This is our dedicated page related to Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution and will feature any and all updates as they arise.
In England, devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. It is important because it ensures that decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and businesses they affect.
Local government reorganisation is the process in which the structure and responsibilities of local authorities are reconfigured. In the context of the English Devolution White Paper, the Government has set out plans to move away from the current two-tier system of district and county councils.
Fundamentally there are two major parts to the White Paper; the first is the introduction of Strategic Authorities, which could include Mayoral Combined Authorities, like the West Midlands Combined Authority. The second is the introduction of new unitary councils that will replace existing two-tier areas, including Staffordshire (please see map below), which will incorporate current district/borough councils and county councils in two-tier areas. These will be replaced by a principal authority (unitary).
Read the Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation White Paper.
What could this mean for South Staffordshire and Staffordshire?
| Timeline | Activity | Supporting documents |
| 21st March, 2025 |
Staffordshire Plan submitted to Government The Staffordshire Interim Devolution Plan was submitted, detailing early options for reorganisation. |
Read the Staffordshire Interim Devolution Plan. |
| 21st March, 2025 |
Staffordshire Plan supporting press release A press release was issued regarding the Local Government Reorganisation submission for Staffordshire. |
Read the Staffordshire Interim Devolution Plan press release. |
| 21st March, 2025 |
Interim plan for Southern and Mid Staffordshire submitted to Government A complementary proposal to the Staffordshire submission - exploring the creation of a Southern and Mid Staffordshire Unitary Council. |
Read to Interim Plan proposal for Southern and Mid Staffordshire. |
| 21st March, 2025 |
Southern and Mid Staffordshire Plan supporting press release A press release was issued regarding the Local Government Reorganisation submission for Southern and Mid Staffordshire. |
Read the press release for the Southern and Mid Staffordshire council interim plan. |
| 18th March, 2025 |
South Staffordshire Council decision At Full Council, Members supported the preferred option of South Staffordshire sitting within a Southern Unitary Council to sit alongside a Northern Unitary Council - expected to be implemented from 2028. Members also supported a Staffordshire Mayoral Combined Authority, which would mirror the existing boundary of Staffordshire. |
Read the Council Report Paper submitted to council. |
| 5th February, 2025 |
Government invitation letter received The UK Government sent a letter to all two-tier councils inviting proposals for local government reorganisation and outlining expectations. |
Read the Government Letter sent to Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent councils. |
What are the next steps and the expected timeline?
- Collaborative work with local council leaders will continue to develop final submissions for unitarisation and devolution across Staffordshire. The final proposals are expected to be submitted by November 2025.
- Our council is committed to continuing to brief residents as and when the programme of work on the various options develops by sharing all updates on this webpage.