Cabinet members at Staffordshire Moorlands District have agreed to submit a proposal calling for an “enhanced north Staffordshire” as the Government prepares to reorganise local government from April 2028.
The Moorlands’ submission backs the creation of two new unitary councils — one for north Staffordshire and one for southern and mid Staffordshire — but stresses that the northern authority must be an enhanced version.
Under the proposal, Uttoxeter, Stone and their surrounding villages would join Stoke on Trent, Newcastle under Lyme and the Moorlands to form a single, larger council delivering all local government services.
Staffordshire Moorlands said it believed its enhanced north Staffordshire model was the strongest option for the area, describing it as “more robust financially, economically, democratically and culturally”.
The authority argued that adding around 60,000 residents from the Uttoxeter and Stone areas would create a far better population balance: roughly 536,000 people in the north and 598,000 in the south, compared with 477,000 and 656,000 under the alternative proposal. The Government has indicated that new unitary councils should serve at least 500,000 residents.
Council leader Coun Mike Gledhill said: “We see real benefits from having an enhanced north Staffordshire, not least in creating a greater voice for the north of the county as we move forward towards the establishment of a strategic authority to bring the benefits of devolution to our area.
“Our enhanced north Staffordshire would see more councillors from outside of Stoke on Trent than from the city, ensuring the interests of north Staffordshire’s towns and rural areas would be well represented; a higher council tax base, with the whole of the key A50 Growth Corridor and businesses like JCB and Bet365 coming under one council. It would also address the absurdity of parts of Trentham, Wedgwood, Blythe Bridge and Meir Heath potentially being aligned with places like Lichfield and Tamworth in a south Staffordshire council when culturally and economically they clearly have a stronger connection to north Staffordshire.
“Furthermore, our proposal acknowledges Stoke on Trent City Council’s financial position, but we should recognise the city council is not unlike many other smaller city councils trying to manage their finances. The city council’s financial plans have been approved by the Government and the national fair funding review for councils, together with a strong asset base, gives a sound foundation for the future.
“Clearly, a Stoke on Trent that succeeds is vital for many of us who work in the city or use its facilities, while greater funding coming into north Staffordshire as a whole can only be but positive to help address issues that have dogged the Moorlands for years like poor public transport and connectivity.”
The Government is expected to consult on the proposals submitted from Staffordshire early this year.
One option will be selected next summer, ahead of shadow unitary authority elections in May 2027 and the launch of new councils from April 2028.
The council’s final proposal can be viewed at staffsmoorlands.gov.uk.
