Two unitary councils to run the county

Staffordshire County Council along with district and borough authorities in the area are to be replaced with two new unitary councils covering the north and south of the county from 2028.

The plans were announced in the House of Commons yesterday as part of a reorganisation of local government that will see the number of councils in England cut from 317 to a maximum of 173.

The government said it would make councils more efficient and "ready for devolution".

The north-south divide was backed by five of the 10 councils in Staffordshire, although there has also been vocal opposition and a pledge by a local MP to fight the proposals that will affect about one million people in the county.

Under the plans, the eight district and borough councils, the county council and the existing Stoke-on-Trent unitary authority will all be abolished.

The two new unitary councils will not only cover a bigger area than existing ones, but take on the running of all public services - that includes bin collections, road maintenance, libraries, housing and social care.