Council shake-up will increase prosperity - leader

Changes to local government in Staffordshire could make the north of the county more prosperous, according to one council leader.

Authorities in the county have put forward five options for redrawing the political map under a local government shake-up that will come into effect in 2028.

The plans will see the county's 10 councils abolished and replaced with fewer, larger unitary authorities responsible for all services, from social care to bin collections.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council leader Mike Gledhill, who prefers a north-south split but with some boundary changes, said: "We think by adjusting the boundary you put the north in a better position to be sound financially."

He predicted placing the authority, which encompasses Leek, Biddulph and Cheadle, into a new north Staffordshire council would sort out transport problems and offer more land on which to expand industry and build homes.

He rejected any suggestion its reserves would be used to bail out financially-challenged Stoke-on-Trent.

"Our reserves in the Staffordshire moorlands for a rainy day, £2.6m," he said. "Stoke-on-Trent's reserves, £14.7m. The County Council's reserves, £48.5m.

"All those reserves are going to go in the pot. When the county council's reserves go into the pot and they're split into two under our model, that's how Stoke-on-Trent becomes a viable authority that can prosper."

He believes his preferred option would simplify services, by getting rid of "anomalies".

"I always come back to the wonderful lane called Grindley Lane in Blythe Bridge, where depending where you are, three different councils might be emptying your bins," he said.

"We're responsible for car parks, but we're not responsible for on-street parking.

"Worst of all, we collect the council tax and then we give 80% of it to the county council and then have no say whatsoever in how it's spent. So let's sort it out."

Residents can submit their views to a government consultation on the changes until 28 March.

A decision is expected to be made in the summer.

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