Published: Friday, 4th September 2026
Preparations for the new councils in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are moving into their next phase as councils in the area work together to make the changes happen.
Council services will continue to be delivered as normal while planning for the new unitary authorities takes place, and changes will not affect the day-to-day services residents receive.
Following the government's decision to replace the existing ten councils across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent with two new unitary councils, two voluntary joint committees are being created.
Although joint committees will eventually be required as part of the legal process, councils have chosen to establish them now on a voluntary basis so planning can begin sooner.
There will be one voluntary joint committee for each future council area. Their role is to oversee planning for the new councils and help ensure the transition is managed effectively until shadow authorities are set up after the elections in May 2027.
Each committee will include elected members from the councils in that area, making sure all local authorities are represented in planning and preparing for the new unitary authorities:
• North Staffordshire: eight members in total, made up of:
• two from the district and borough councils.
• two from the Staffordshire County Council; and
• four from Stoke-on-Trent City Council
• South and Mid Staffordshire: 12 members in total, made up of:
• six from the district and borough councils; and
• six from Staffordshire County Council
The joint committees form part of a wider programme of work already underway to prepare for the new councils.
The government has appointed Patrick Flaherty, Chief Executive of Staffordshire County Council, as Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for the reorganisation programme.
He will be supported by Jon Rouse, Chief Executive of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, as Deputy SRO for North Staffordshire, and Andy O'Brien, Chief Executive of East Staffordshire Borough Council, and Stephen Gabriel, Chief Executive of Tamworth Borough Council, will share the role of Deputy SRO for South and Mid Staffordshire. Simon Fletcher, Chief Executive of Lichfield District Council, will also provide oversight and assurance across the programme as Assurance Deputy SRO.
Together, they will lead the Implementation Team, made up of the Chief Executives of the ten existing councils and the Programme Director, overseeing the work needed to create the two new councils alongside the joint committees.
Councillor Martin Murray, Chair of the Staffordshire Leaders Board, said: “The Government's decision on local government reorganisation means we must now deliver a substantial programme of change within a challenging timescale. We are getting on with the work needed to ensure that the new councils are ready to serve residents effectively from day one. The voluntary joint committees will help coordinate planning and decision-making across the future council areas, while our priority remains protecting frontline services and delivering for residents throughout the transition.”
Councillor Jane Ashworth, Vice Chair of the Staffordshire Leaders Board, added: "This work is about making sure the transition to the new councils is carefully planned and well managed. By establishing the committees now, councils can continue working together to prepare for the changes ahead.”
Each council will appoint representatives to the voluntary joint committees over the coming weeks. The first meetings are expected to take place in late October 2026, with the full membership of each committee to be confirmed in due course.
More information on local government reorganisation in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent is available via the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Local Government Reorganisation Hub.