Stafford could get a town council as part of plans to reorganise local government.

Borough councillors were discussing government proposals for devolution and local government reorganisation at a special meeting on Tuesday (18 March).

The government ‘White Paper’ could see all the district, borough, and county councils in Staffordshire, and Stoke City Council, abolished - to be replaced with new larger unitaries.

The meeting heard that Stoke-on-Trent City Council had put forward a proposal which would see them merge with Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough and Staffordshire Moorlands District councils to form a Northern Unitary.

And last night (Tuesday) Borough Council leader, Aidan Godfrey, told the meeting the leaders and cabinets of the other districts and boroughs were proposing a Southern Unitary.

“It is my belief that a Southern Staffordshire Unitary Authority is the best option for Stafford Borough. It keeps existing boundaries and will be an economic driver for the south.”

He continued: “Ideally, what we want to see for Staffordshire with the information we have to date, is a north Staffordshire unitary with no part of Stafford Borough in it. A south Staffordshire unitary made up of six willing councils. And a county-wide strategic authority headed by an elected Mayor within our own boundaries.”

But the leader added: “Because a new unitary will be much bigger than us, there is a danger that local people will not be represented as they are now. So we are going to set up a working group immediately, of all parties, to oversee the formation of a new town council for Stafford.

“If successful this would be a natural successor to Stafford Borough Council.”

The towns of Stone and Eccleshall, as well as other villages and communities across the borough, already have their own parish councils.

Councillors agreed to commission work to find out costs and further details on setting up the town council.

A ‘Mayoral Strategic Authority’ for the whole of Staffordshire, including Stoke-on-Trent, which the report says was likely to be supported by all the councils in the county, was also backed.

Councillor Godfrey said: “Our residents and businesses must come first in any new unitary model and we believe that the reorganisation should lead to improved services with no increase in council tax resulting from the change - with no detriment in the way local people are able to engage with their council, and can still influence the functions it provides.”

A copy of the full report can be seen from the council’s website

Press Release No 6203