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(A)          
That the recent developments by HM Government in
respect of Local Government Reorganisation and English Devolution
be noted.

(B)          
That the work undertaken to date with stakeholders
to prepare the final submission document be noted.

(C)          
That it be recommended to Full Council that a
unitary council for Newcastle-under-Lyme was the preferred option
for submission.
 
On Devolution:
 
(D)          
That Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
co-developing a submission to Government setting out a devolution
growth framework for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, be
supported.

 
(E)          
That the submission document’s focus on
devolution, and Staffordshire’s ability to deliver against
devolution themes without recourse to completing Local Government
Reorganisation, be endorsed.

 
(F)           
That the proposed Strategic Authority geography at a
suitable regional footprint to give the Strategic Authority parity
of esteem with other regions, be supported.
 
On forced
reorganisation of local government:
 
(G)          
That it be noted that this Council remains of the
belief that the current two tiers of local government in
Staffordshire should remain in place as the best governance model
for the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme.

 
(H)          
That this Council believes that any new authority
must have the highest possible standards of service to residents
and any changes to the current governance model in the Borough of
Newcastle-under-Lyme must maintain or exceed the current level of
local service provision.
          

 
(I)             
That the Government be requested to fully fund their
selective forced reorganisation of local authorities in England.
Funding of local services should not have to be cut nor council tax
increased to pay for reorganisation.   

 
(J)            
That Newcastle-under-Lyme’s Members of
Parliament be requested to provide active support for these
proposals and advocate them to HM Government.
 
Final Proposal
 
(K)          
That the Leader, in conjunction with the Chief
Executive, be authorised to make any required updates to
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s final Submission to
Government following the Full Council meeting on 19th
November before submission to the Minister by 28th
November 2025.
 
(L)           
That it be noted that further reports will be
brought to Cabinet and Council at the appropriate time.