'Stoke-on-Trent has to be in a sensible plan for devolution'

Moorlands leaders set to back city 'merger' in devolution

- Phil Corrigan

COUNCIL leaders in the Staffordshire Moorlands are set to back new plans for an 'enlarged' North Staffordshire unitary authority.

The Government has called on councils to come up with proposals for replacing the current two-tier system of counties and districts with a single layer of unitaries.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC), led by a minority Labour administration, has yet to formally support an option, with some elected members firmly opposed to the area becoming part of a 'Greater Stoke-on-Trent.

But now a cross-party subcommittee has recommended a proposal which would see the Moorlands become part of a North Staffordshire Council, along with Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle and parts of Stafford and East Staffordshire boroughs.

This builds on the North Staffordshire model supported by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, but extends it to include Stone, Uttoxeter and nearby villages.

The rest of Staffordshire would be combined into a Southern and Mid Staffordshire Council.