Councillors have approved the creation of a new Town Council for Stafford, with the first elections expected to take place in May 2027.
Stafford Borough Council backed the proposal at its meeting on Tuesday 8 September following a recommendation from a cross-party working group and a six-week public consultation.
The new council would serve more than 46,000 residents. Stafford is currently the only unparished area of the borough.
Nearly two thirds backed the proposal
Around 1,000 consultation responses were received. The borough council said nearly 65% supported creating a Stafford Town Council, while 27% were opposed.
The consultation formed part of a Community Governance Review, the statutory process required before a town or parish council can be established.
Initial proposals indicate that an average Band D household would contribute less than 75p a week towards the new council’s running costs.
Council leader Aidan Godfrey said: “We will continue to ensure local voices are at the heart of this process as it moves forward.”
Doxey excluded from the proposed area
The working group recommended excluding Doxey after residents there strongly opposed inclusion during the consultation. Doxey is already represented by an existing parish council.
The decision was taken against the background of the Government’s pause and review of plans for two unitary authorities in Staffordshire.
Featured image: Humphrey Bolton / Geograph, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. The image has not been materially altered.
