Stoke-on-Trent City Council has said the city will retain its official status when local government is reorganised across Staffordshire.

A council spokesperson said: "Stoke-on-Trent will not lose city status as a result of Local Government Reorganisation. Plans have been in place for a long time to safeguard the city's status, using a statutory order."

What is changing?

The Government announced in July that it intends, subject to Parliamentary approval, to establish two new unitary councils covering Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

The proposed northern authority would cover Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands. A southern authority would cover Stafford, East Staffordshire, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Tamworth and South Staffordshire.

The ten existing county, city, district and borough councils would be replaced. The current timetable has elections to shadow authorities planned for May 2027, with the new councils expected to begin operating in April 2028.

How city status can be protected

The council's published guidance says local authorities are working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on a Structural Change Order. That legislation would establish the new arrangements and can make provision to preserve Stoke-on-Trent's civic rights and privileges.

Those details are still being developed and the secondary legislation will require Parliamentary approval. The council's statement addresses concern about the title of the city; it does not mean the wider reorganisation has already taken effect.