Stafford is set to get its own Town Council after a cross-party working group backed the plan following a major public consultation. The decision represents a historic moment for the town, which is the only part of the borough without a parish council.
Nearly 65 percent of residents who responded to the consultation supported the proposal, with more than 1,000 people having their say during the six-week survey. Only 27 percent opposed the idea, giving a clear mandate for change in Stafford.
The new Stafford Town Council would serve around 47,000 residents, with elections scheduled to take place in 2027. The move has been prompted by Government plans to scrap the current council system and replace it with larger unitary authorities by 2028. Local residents were concerned about losing representation when the current authority disappears.
Doxey will not be included in the new council after residents there strongly opposed the proposal during the consultation. The area already has its own Parish Council in place.
Stafford's Full Council will make the final decision on the Town Council proposal in September. If approved, the new council would represent a significant change in local governance for the town's residents.