Staffordshire council facing abolition set to begin creating new parish council

A Staffordshire council facing abolition under local government reorganisation is set to begin the process of creating a new parish council for Tamworth.

Councillors at Tamworth Borough Council will be asked next week if they support the commencement of a community governance review.

The review will explore whether a parish council should be created and what ward boundaries should be, what they should be called, and how many councillors should sit on it. Under the current timeline the first elections could be held in May 2028.

All district councils in Staffordshire along with Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council are set to be abolished in May 2028 and replaced with new unitary authorities. Proposals on the future of local government in the area are set to be confirmed in the Summer.

It is hoped that the review will be able to reflect the interests of Tamworth and retain the ceremonial functions of a town mayor, however this will be explored during the review. It could also involve the transfer of assets and staff to a new parish council.

The establishment of a town or parish council in Tamworth will involve a new tax precept. This will be used for staffing, training and other costs associated with the council. It is expected that the new council will initially have a three year term to align with the rest of Staffordshire.

The report to councillors states: “This report recommends that Tamworth Borough Council initiate a Community Governance Review (CGR) to evaluate the potential establishment of a new parish council for Tamworth.

“It is the intention that the area to be reviewed will encompass the entire borough. The review will explore whether a parish council should be created and aims to identify ward boundaries, ward names, and the number of councillors.

“Extensive consultation will be conducted, engaging all local government electors in the borough and inviting contributions from individuals and organisations with significant interest in the community.

“The initial consultation will focus specifically on gathering opinions regarding the creation of a new parish for the town, and if further clarity is required, subsequent consultations will be held to refine and inform the final recommendations.”