Reorganisation plans which could impact on every household across Staffordshire

A TOTAL OF FIVE DIFFERENT MODELS HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION IN STOKE-ON-TRENT AND STAFFORDSHIRE. HERE, PHIL CORRIGAN LOOKS AT ALL THE OPTIONS IN DETAIL...

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With just weeks to go until the deadline, five different models for LGR in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire have now come forward.

Here is a rundown of the proposals, together with the main arguments for and against each one:

This proposal would see the county split into northern and southern unitaries, with Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle and Staffordshire Moorlands merging in the north, and Stafford, East Staffs, Cannock Chase, South Staffordshire, Tamworth and Lichfield combining in the south.

Who supports it: Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Stafford Borough Council, East Staffordshire Borough Council, Cannock Chase District Council.

Pros: A north-south split would align with the existing economic and social geography of Staffordshire, creating two generally cohesive areas. Replacing the 10 existing councils with just two unitaries could provide the greatest amount of savings.