Staffordshire

Staffordshire County Council has announced that Councillor Chris Large is stepping down from his role as Reform UK group leader and as cabinet member for finance and resources following a family bereavement.  Large, who represents the Brewood division in South Staffordshire, was appointed to replace the previous group leader, Ian Cooper, who resigned in December amid a social media controversy.  He had been expected to assume the full council leadership role at the next meeti

Staffordshire, UK – February 3, 2026 – In a pointed letter to local MPs, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways, Peter Mason, has strongly refuted reports suggesting the authority received an additional £54 million in government funding for road maintenance, calling such statements “false and misleading.”  The clarification comes amid ongoing debates over the county’s vast highway network, which spans nearly 4,000 miles and is valued at over £7 b

In a key meeting yesterday (Monday February 2nd), Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Ben Adams, successfully presented and gained support for a proposed increase in the policing precept, aiming to bolster local law enforcement resources despite ongoing national debates over policing restructuring. The Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel convened on Monday, February 2, at 10:00am in the Oak Room at County Buildings, Stafford, for a session that focused h

Today marks our first fully live day at Staffs News – and we’re ready to start with a bang! Are you passionate about local news in Staffordshire? Do you want to share real, factual stories from your community without the spin? Staffs News is a brand-new independent local news outlet dedicated to covering the stories that matter to Staffordshire residents – fairly, honestly, and with a focus on the positive. At Staffs News ( staffs.news ), we’re committed to delivering unbiase

West Midlands Railway Transitions to Public Ownership in Major Step for UK's Rail Reform Birmingham, 1 February 2026  — Commuters and passengers across the West Midlands and beyond woke up today to a significant change on their rail networks: West Midlands Railway (WMR), along with its sister brand London Northwestern Railway (LNR), has officially transferred into public ownership. The move, effective from Sunday 1 February 2026, sees services previously operated by West Midl

New Reform UK Leader Elected at Staffordshire County Council Reform UK councillors at Staffordshire County Council have elected a new group leader. Cllr Chris Large, who represents the Brewood division, has taken on the role after a vote by the controlling group. He will be supported by Cllr Martin Murray as deputy group leader. Murray had been acting as leader since the previous leader, Cllr Ian Cooper, resigned following controversy over social media posts. Cllr Large curre

Staffordshire Children’s Services Earns Ofsted Praise After Major Improvements Staffordshire County Council’s children’s services have been given a significant vote of confidence by Ofsted following a focused reinspection in December 2025. Inspectors described the service as having made strong progress since it was rated as requiring improvement in 2023. They highlighted ambitious leadership, improved management oversight and better decision-making for vulnerable children. Th