To Be or Not to Be

 

I came across this item by chance, today, only to find that the consultation period had already closed.

The piece under the name of Cllr Simon Tagg stated :

'Residents should be at the forefront of any changes to the local councils that serve them'.

'We want people to take part in this questionnaire so we hear what is important to them and how they think local councils can deliver services that make a difference,

Published: 18 August 2025

Period of consultation now closed.                                                          

Staffordshire County Council stated:

 'Residents, visitors and businesses in the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme can have their say on the idea on the proposed reorganisation of Local Government.'

Staffordshire County Council

Betley Parish Council discussed the matter briefly at one of its meetings but the Chairman indicated that it was of not much relevance to the Parish since the Parish Council would not be affected.

It is unclear, however, when the consultation began but July and August are never a good time for a consultation so it would be interesting to know how many people completed the form and actually had their say.

The issue was raised briefly just before the last local election and discussed at a County Council meeting where Cllr Tagg made a point of walking out as the meeting began. 

In an Agenda item for September 2025 the Parish Council stated that 

 'Staffordshire County Council has published its proposals for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). 

 Its proposal is an east/west split of the county, with two councils made up of the following districts - 

West Staffordshire Unitary: Comprising of the districts of Stafford, South Staffordshire, Newcastle under-Lyme and Cannock Chase.

East Staffordshire Unitary: Comprising of the districts of Tamworth, Stoke-on-Trent, Lichfield, Staffordshire Moorlands and East Staffordshire’.

It will be interesting how this will work out.  It might have been better to have a root and branch ‘investigation’ of every local council – from Parish upwards - in the County first.  Those councils found wanting should be closed since these, if amalgamated, will simply drag down and hold back councils doing a good job, and understand what a local council is for and what it should be doing with public money.

In the meantime all Councillors should receive training.  They should also be made aware of national rules and statutes which might in turn encourage them towards acceptable modes of behaviour.   

It will, indeed, be interesting to see what happens next - and especially with the £7.2 million county pension fund.       


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