What is it and what’s happening?
Government plans to simplify local government and end the two-tier system of a county council and a borough council. There will be a new council, called a unitary authority that is responsible for all council services including housing, StreetScene, bins, education, children’s and adult’s social care, roads etc.
What does this mean for Tamworth?
Currently local people receive services from two councils, Tamworth Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council. This approach will be replaced by a new council delivering all the services in the area.
The shape of local government is yet to be determined. While proposals have been submitted, the decision on how local government will be structured in Staffordshire and Tamworth lie with central government.
What has been proposed?
Together with Lichfield District Council and South Staffordshire Council, the proposal we’ve submitted to government is for three balanced, community-focused unitary councils across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
The proposal would create:
- A council covering East Staffordshire, Lichfield and Tamworth (population 322,708)
- A council covering Cannock, South Staffordshire and Stafford (population 360,067)
- A council covering Stoke, Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle-under-Lyme (population 498,803)
This model is shaped by feedback from over 16,700 residents and businesses who took part in one of the largest local government engagement exercises ever carried out in Staffordshire.
Three-quarters of respondents said they want councils that remain local, visible and community-focused.
View the business case proposal.
For more information:
- Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Leaders unite behind bid for Foundation Strategic Authority
- Joint submission to government on southern and mid Staffordshire local.
- Press release outlining Tamworth’s position following full council on 10 March.
- 10 March full council report and decision.
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government feedback letter
- Press release outlining proposal to create three unitary councils across Staffordshire
- Business case proposal
The existing Staffordshire authority make up
In Staffordshire the local government family currently consists of:
Staffordshire County Council
Stoke on Trent City Council
Eight borough and district councils:
Cannock Chase District Council
East Staffordshire Borough Council
Lichfield District Council
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
South Staffordshire Council
Stafford Borough Council
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
Tamworth Borough Council
Further information
April 2026 - Unitary councils established (formally called vesting day)
For more information about local government reorganisation see: