The Government has paused its plans to reorganise local councils across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, following updated legal advice announced on Monday 7 September 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said decisions affecting 14 areas, including Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, are being reviewed. Decisions affecting Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk have been withdrawn altogether.

What was the original plan?

Less than two months ago, ministers confirmed that Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent would be divided between two new councils. Stone would have become part of a new South Staffordshire authority covering Stafford Borough, East Staffordshire, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Tamworth and South Staffordshire.

A second northern authority would have covered Newcastle under Lyme, Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Moorlands.

The ten existing county, city, district and borough councils across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent were due to be replaced, with elections to new shadow councils in May 2027 before the new authorities took over services in April 2028.

What changes now?

The Government has confirmed that local elections due in May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries. For Stone, Stafford Borough Council currently lists its next scheduled election as May 2027.

There are no immediate changes to council services. However, the reorganisation timetable has been thrown into doubt.

Council response

Councillor Martin Murray, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, criticised the pause as an "eleventh-hour decision from Government, made with little warning and even less detail".

"Councils across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have worked flat out to meet Government's timetable, following their rules. To pause now wastes time, drains capacity and undermines confidence," he said.

"The timetable is broken. Government must stop wasting our time and energy, give councils straight answers and put devolution first."

Background

The announcement comes three days after councils across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent announced they were creating voluntary joint committees to begin preparing for the two new authorities. Those committees were intended to oversee planning until the shadow councils were established following the May 2027 elections, with their first meetings expected in late October.

All ten councils in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent submitted an expression of interest in March to create a Foundation Strategic Authority covering the whole area, which would provide a strategic body covering areas including transport, skills, employment support, planning and economic development.