'We'll fight to keep this county as one'

Vow as councillors vote for new local authority proposals

- Kerry Ashdown

SENIOR councillors have agreed to put forward plans for two new unitary authorities covering east and west Staffordshire - but said they will campaign to keep the county united.

Staffordshire County Council cabinet members remain opposed to local government reorganisation - which the national government set out plans for at the end of 2024.

Across England the current two-tier local government system in many counties is set to be axed, with borough, district and county councils set to be replaced with unitary authorities. Existing authorities are required to submit business cases for proposed new councils by November 28.

Staffordshire County Council is set to put forward proposals for Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Moorlands, East Staffordshire, Lichfield and Tamworth to merge together to form a new East Staffordshire unitary. Newcastle, Stafford, South Staffordshire and Cannock Chase would merge into West Staffordshire.