Leaders say Staffordshire's a 'forgotten area' as government rolls out devolution plans
It's as neighbouring Cheshire was one of six regions selected for new local powers
As leaders in Cheshire welcome the news they're getting a new mayor and more local control, those in Staffordshire say they're worried they're being forgotten about.
It comes after the government picked Cheshire as one of six key regions to get more local powers over things like education and transport under a big devolution roll-out.
"We're in a vulnerable position now I feel, because we've got three Combined Authorities around us." said Chief Executive of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Rachel Laver.
"I support devolution, but if we have North and South Staffs Devolution Deal we're going to be too small fish in a very big pond, and we're not going to get the investment. Then if you look at the investment that has come with devolution deals, you're talking really significant amounts of money. That money is being invested locally.
"I mean if you look at the money West Midlands Combined Authority got, just on education they had £140-million. Look what we could do here with £140-million. But we also need investment in our physical infrastructure.
"If the government are going to keep making decisions centrally, and we're not getting the attention here, it's going to go to the Combined Authorities - and we're just going to be the backwater that's forgotten.
Labour said that with new mayors, these regions will have unprecedented powers to drive local growth, improve housing and turbocharge transport, putting Labour’s Plan for Change into action across the country. Elections for these new mayors will take place in May 2026.
Rachel continued: "I can absolutely see the need for simplification of local authorities because we've got 8 in our patch, I do think it's important to have local centres still but at the end of the day local authorities across the country are struggling with their budgets - if you can achieve at scale by delivering things at a county level instead I think that's the way we should be going."
Meanwhile over in Cheshire, the news has been welcomed by the leaders of the region’s three councils: Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West & Chester Council; Cllr Hans Mundry, Leader of Warrington Borough Council; and the Leader and Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council, Cllr Nick Mannion and Cllr Michael Gorman, who said:
“The announcement is good news for our residents, communities and businesses.
“Cheshire and Warrington being part of the priority programme shows that government is confident in Cheshire and Warrington’s ability to seize the opportunities that a devolution agreement could bring. It puts us at the front of the queue for significant power and funding and we want to seize this opportunity.
“Devolution would allow us to make more decisions here in Cheshire and Warrington, rather than decisions about our region and its almost 1 million residents being made in London.”
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