Published: Wednesday, 19th March 2025
The leader of Cannock Chase District Council said he would prefer to be part of a ‘Southern Unitary’ if government proposals to scrap local councils go ahead.
He was speaking at a specially arranged meeting for councillors on Monday (17 March) to discuss a report on proposals for local government reorganisation.
The Government ‘White Paper on Devolution’ has paved the way for all district, borough, small unitary and county councils in Staffordshire to be abolished - to be replaced with new larger unitary authorities.
Last month, Stoke-on-Trent City Council revealed a proposed ‘North Staffordshire Unitary Authority’ - which would see the city merge with Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. And Cannock Chase Members were told that Staffordshire County Council had put forward a plan for a unitary which included the whole of the county - but excluded Stoke-on-Trent.
The report to Cannock Chase councillors this week stated that the authority was “supportive of the principal of a two unitary council model for Staffordshire” and if that was adopted “Cannock Chase would clearly sit in the south.”
Councillors agreed to back a unitary authority in the south of Staffordshire. Interim proposals must be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Culture and Local Government by Friday (21 March).
The meeting heard that other options could be explored before a final business case was submitted in November.
The Government White Paper states all new unitary authorities should be 500,000 in size and said they prefer proposals to use existing district boundaries as this would make them easier to establish.
Council Leader, Tony Johnson, said that residents and businesses across Cannock Chase would be best served by a new authority established from councils in the south of the county - which would also include East Staffordshire, Lichfield, South Staffordshire, Stafford Borough and Tamworth.
He continued: “We in the southern part of the county are all in agreement that the best way forward would be a north, south split. And a Southern Staffordshire Alliance, or whatever we call it, is cross party, it’s not political, and would be a strong cohesive body.”
“The Government has set out their vision for local authorities and the language in the White Paper is unequivocal - we are being told what to do.”
He added: “We must put in an interim proposal for 21 March and that will be the start of the journey. So, the best interests for the people of Cannock Chase is to be part of a unitary authority serving the south.”
The leader told the council that as part of devolution the government wanted to see ‘Strategic Authorities’ with an elected mayor - and this should include all of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Councillors also supported the commissioning of a report to look at the details and costs of setting up a town council for Cannock and the other areas of the district without parish or town councils.
Cannock Chase and Stafford Borough Council have been sharing services for more than a decade with a combined population of more than 240,000 residents.
The full report is available from the council’s website.