Staffordshire's Reform UK marking 100 days since taking county council reins
Reform UK-led Staffordshire County Council said scrapping some EV charging stations and putting the brakes on new solar and battery farm schemes are among the new administration's proudest achievements in its first 100 days.
Saturday (August 9) will mark 100 days since the party scored a historic win by taking 49 seats and control of the council.
The party said since then leader Councillor Ian Cooper and the cabinet have been getting on with the day-to-day running of the council and establishing themselves as a credible force for change in local government.
It said scrapping projects such as rolling out EV charging stations in areas that have "little or no demand" for them has saved the taxpayer £4.5 million. The party also claimed that the council has been able to safeguar the future of all the county's farms from sale and future development by solar, wind or battery farms and other forms of "net zero land grab". It claims that the 63 farms saved will continue to produce food from farm to fork, maintaining their economic benefits to the county.
Councillor Ian Cooper said: “We have spent the first 100 days listening, learning and shaping the future direction of Staffordshire County Council, demonstrating responsibility, competence, and professionalism. Not a party of protest, but as a party ready to do the hard work of governing.”
The council has also kickstarted a financial review and audit of all sectors of council and service providers by looking at contracts, headcount, IT procurement, property, assets and more.
The county council has also created a community safety unit to tackle all aspects of crime including addiction service and youth offending, and backed the county's new film location project which has generated almost £500,000 so far this year.
Meanwhile Reform UK leader Nigel Farage MP said Reform-led councils across Britain were already delivering on their manifesto aims.
“On May 1, we showed that if you vote Reform, you get Reform.
“From rolling back the devastating net zero agenda on a local level to cutting wasteful spending. Reform councils are standing up for the priorities of local people not the whims of bureaucrats or the entrenched elite."
