'We are in a much better position because of our experience since 1974' - Stone leaders respond to local government reorganisation plans
Stone community leaders have backed proposals for the town to be included in a new southern Staffordshire council – and have called for action to secure assets such parks and meeting spaces for the benefit of residents in the future.
Four separate proposals have been suggested for local government reorganisation in Staffordshire, which will see the axing of the current two-tier council system.
Stafford Borough Council is backing plans for a new authority covering the six southern district and borough areas, including Stone. But Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has suggested a northern Staffordshire council, combining it with the Newcastle Borough and Stoke-on-Trent areas, which could include Stone and its surrounding villages, separating the town from Stafford Borough.
Staffordshire County Council is proposing two new authorities for the east and west, which would see Stone become part of the western council along with the rest of Stafford Borough. And a fourth option, suggested by Lichfield District Council’s leader, would see the six southern districts and boroughs divided into south-west and south-east councils.
Stone Town Council members considered their response to the local government reorganisation proposals at their meeting on Tuesday.
A report considered at the meeting said: “Whilst Stone Town Council will continue to work enthusiastically for the residents of Stone within whatever local government structure is finally determined for Staffordshire, there could be a significantly different outlook for the town’s local government services to residents depending on the outcome. Of the options currently under discussion, the town council strongly favours the split into two unitary authorities, south and north, with Stone included within the south.
“The east/west proposal also offers many of the advantages of the town council’s preferred option, but would only be supported should the north/south option prove to be unviable. The town council opposes the north/south split with two southern councils as it is unlikely to be suitable to meet the town’s needs in the longer term due to questions around the smaller councils viability.
“Finally, the town council is totally opposed the north/south split, with Stone in the north. It is hoped that all principal councils within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent will consider the comments above, and take them into account when submitting their proposals to central Government in November.”
Stone councillors also highlighted the future role of town and parish councils in representing residents and providing services. Councillor Rob Kenney said: “Parishes will be putting forward requests for various assets.
“The unparished area within Stafford Town will be looking towards creating a Stafford Town Council. It would be a very similar form to us, but we as Stone Town Council are in a much better position because of the experience we have had since 1974.”
Councillor Jim Davies said: “We are going to have to be doing a lot of work if we are going to do the best for the people of Stone. We need to look carefully at that and make sure we can take on and manage services that affect the quality of life for people, which could make the town council even more important.”
The report to Tuesday’s council meeting said: “The council will need to take a view on the role it would want to play following the new councils coming into force. A unique opportunity exists, which may not exist in the future, to protect local assets for local people.
“For example, the town council relies on leasing two of its major assets from
Stafford Borough – the council offices and the Frank Jordan Centre. There is no guarantee that a future unitary council that is less aware of the town council’s needs won’t seek to sell these assets to support their budgets, and thus the benefit of them would be lost to Stone forever.
“A similar argument could apply to many other Stafford Borough assets in Stone such as play areas and open spaces, and perhaps even parts of Westbridge Park or Stonefield Park. Additionally, the town’s influence on items such as the level of car parking charges may also be significantly reduced.
“It is therefore suggested that the (General Purposes) Committee authorises the Town Clerk, in consultation with the chairman and vice-chairman of this committee, to enter into discussions with Stafford Borough Council to seek to secure as many of these assets as possible for the long-term benefit of Stone, and report back to this committee as discussions progress.”
