Staffordshire County Council convened to discuss the implications of the Labour government's proposals for local government reorganisation (LGR) and to consider a proposal for an East-West unitary authority split in Staffordshire. Councillors unanimously opposed the government's LGR plans, which they felt were being imposed on them without a clear mandate or public support. Despite their opposition, the council debated and ultimately agreed to forward a proposal for an East-West split to the government, while also agreeing to send a letter to the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister, expressing their united opposition to LGR in Staffordshire.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Staffordshire

The main topic of discussion was the government's plan for LGR and its potential impact on Staffordshire. Councillor Martin Murray, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, moved consideration of the report on LGR, which was seconded by Councillor Ian Cooper, Leader of the Council.

Background:

• Councillors expressed strong opposition to the LGR, characterising it as a top-down, rushed reorganisation that would tear apart communities and cost a fortune with little to no benefit.
• The LGR proposals stem from a shift in government policy from devolution to local government reorganisation, which was initiated by the Labour government.
• The council was instructed to put forward an option that is most likely to succeed under the current framework, leading to the development of a proposal for East-West Unitary Authorities for Staffordshire.
• The council used the government's own criteria and consultants, including PwC, to build the business case for their proposal.

East-West Unitary Authority Proposal:

• The proposal suggests dividing Staffordshire into two unitary authorities: Staffordshire East Council and Staffordshire West Council.
  • Staffordshire East Council would serve 689,784 people in Staffordshire Moorlands, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Tamworth and Stoke-on-Trent.
  • Staffordshire West Council would serve 487,794 people in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford, Cannock Chase and South Staffordshire.
• The East-West model aims to distribute key assets equally and provide parity and balance across the region.
• The estimated cost of implementing LGR is £31.9 million, with potential savings of £28.4 million per year after 3.6 years.

Arguments Against the Proposal:

• Councillor Colin Greatorex, Shadow Portfolio Holder for Health and Care, criticised the proposal for not being informed by local views and for the distances people would have to travel within the proposed new authorities.
• Councillor Alex Farrell, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Portfolio Holder for Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution, raised concerns about the lack of public consultation and the potential for Lichfield to be drawn towards Birmingham.
• Councillor Simon Tagg, Shadow Portfolio Holder for Strategic Highways, expressed disappointment with the lack of detail in the proposal and questioned the ambition for genuine community engagement.
• Councillor Charlotte Kelly stated that her constituents in Leek Rural and the Staffordshire Moorlands do not want to be joined with Stoke-on-Trent.

Arguments in Favour of the Proposal:

• Councillor Martin Murray, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, defended the proposal, stating that it gives Staffordshire the best chance of success under the government's rules and delivers the strongest outcomes for council tax receipts, business rates, employment, GVA[^1] and disposable income. [^1]: Gross Value Added (GVA) is a measure of the total value of goods and services produced in an economy, less the value of intermediate consumption (the cost of materials, supplies, and services used to produce them).
• Councillor Mike Broom stated that the proposal was the best of a bad bunch of options.
• Councillor Wayne Luca stated that he would support the cabinet's decision because he had listened to the people in his area.

Decision:

• The council agreed to forward the proposal for an East-West split to the government.
• The council also agreed to send a letter to the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister, expressing their united opposition to LGR in Staffordshire.

Dispensation Requests

The council approved a blanket dispensation for all councillors to participate in debates and votes related to LGR. This was required because any restructuring under LGR could affect councillor allowances, creating a potential conflict of interest. Councillor Ian Cooper, Leader of the Council, proposed the dispensation, which was supported by Councillor Philip White, Leader of the Opposition.