Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution

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?

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.